Thanks to all the Grands in our Lives

Volunteer Grandparent and child in classroom

Since 1978, the first Sunday after Labor Day has been designated National Grandparents Day. This year, Grandparents Day was September 7. As we celebrate the grandparents and grandparent figures in our own families, we are especially grateful here at the YWCA for our Grandparent Volunteers. In our Early Learning Program, volunteer Grandparents partner with classroom teachers to support students and offer the care that grandparents are known for. Our classroom teachers appreciate the support and the love these volunteer grandmas bring to the classroom. Here’s what they say about these awesome volunteers: 

Foster grandparents are important to me because they help set a certain tone – a loving, caring, grandparent touch – in each classroom, and they add extra eyes and ears.

All the reading these kids from their classroom grandparents is so beneficial; they are always available to read to the kids when the teachers often are not. Having multiple generations in the classroom is wonderful for the kids' social/emotional growth. We definitely don't want to lose their loving arms and listening ears in the classroom

If it wasn’t for the foster grandparent program in the older classrooms, the children would miss out on a LOT of “grandmother love” and support. The foster grandparents bring so much knowledge.

We love having the foster grandparents here. Our babies and kids big and small need their love and cuddles everyday!

It takes a village to raise happy, healthy, productive citizens and our foster grandparents allow us to expand and enrich our village. Researchers have a lot to say about intergenerational relationships, but you don’t have to be a researcher to see that the solid, loving connections foster grandparents bring to the classroom help children develop the skills, confidence, and strength they need to be successful in life.