Articles, videos and slideshows for grandparents and older Christians looking to encourage the younger generations Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:23:36 -0500 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/simple-ways-more-involved-grandparent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/simple-ways-more-involved-grandparent.html Jennifer Waddle https://www.crosswalk.com/author/jennifer-waddle/ You don’t have to take your grandkids to Disney Land to be an awesome grandparent. It’s often the simple things that make the biggest difference. Here are 7 simple ideas to be more intentional with your grandchildren. Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/21-amazing-reasons-god-created-grandparents.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/21-amazing-reasons-god-created-grandparents.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ Our grandparents help us in so many ways, like giving advice, being there to support us, going to war for us in prayer, and watching our children sometimes when we need them to. They love to help their family. Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:52:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/dr-james-emery-white/five-mistakes-to-avoid-as-a-christian-grandparent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/dr-james-emery-white/five-mistakes-to-avoid-as-a-christian-grandparent.html Dr. James Emery White https://www.crosswalk.com/author/dr-james-emery-white/ Navigating grandparenting effectively hinges on a healthy relationship with your adult children, avoiding common pitfalls like treating them as still being children or confusing help with interference. Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:54:43 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/7-traditions-to-make-christmas-unforgettable-for-your-grandkids.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/7-traditions-to-make-christmas-unforgettable-for-your-grandkids.html Mary Southerland https://www.crosswalk.com/author/mary-southerland/ I hope you understand how vital holiday traditions and memories are for your grandchildren. You are depositing bits and pieces of yourself in their lives – memories they will always cherish. Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:31:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/things-to-pray-for-your-grandchildren-this-christmas-season.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/things-to-pray-for-your-grandchildren-this-christmas-season.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ The Christmas season is full of hustle and bustle as we get ready to spend time with friends and family and enjoy the holiday. Even amid all of this, it’s still important to stay in the Word and have a daily prayer time. As a grandparent, the most important people you can pray for are your grandchildren. In this world, many influences, both positive and negative, can shape children's identities. Here are some things to pray for your grandchildren this holiday season.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Tom Werner Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:11:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-must-know-tips-to-be-a-supportive-grandparent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-must-know-tips-to-be-a-supportive-grandparent.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ Being a grandparent is one of life's greatest blessings. You can do all kinds of things with them you didn't get to do with your kids. It's very easy to overindulge them unintentionally. However, grandparents need to pause and think about being a supportive grandparent. What does this mean? It means respecting your children's decisions, not undermining them, and showing respect to your adult children and their spouses.Ways to Be a Supportive GrandparentPhoto courtesy: ©GettyImages/PeopleImages Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:59:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/ways-to-make-christmas-magical-for-your-grandchildren.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/ways-to-make-christmas-magical-for-your-grandchildren.html Stacey Monaco https://www.crosswalk.com/author/stacey-monaco/ As grandparents, we have the opportunity to infuse love and creativity into our grandchildren’s holiday season through a bit of planning, an attitude of joy, and the understanding that often, good memories are less about what we do and more about how we do it. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/10-outdoor-fall-activities-for-grandparents-and-grandkids-to-enjoy-together.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/10-outdoor-fall-activities-for-grandparents-and-grandkids-to-enjoy-together.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ Fall is here, and the weather is cooling down. If summer's high temps kept you inside, now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy those fall temperatures. Even better? Getting outside with your grandkids. Kids love to be outside no matter the weather, so they will be glad to spend time with you.Let's talk about outdoor safety.Before we get into all the fun activities, let's take a minute to talk about outdoor safety. Here are some things to remember:Apply sunscreen. Even though the sun is not as hot, kids still need to wear it.Wear the right clothing. Make sure the kids are wearing comfortable clothes like long-sleeved shirts, pants, and sneakers. Closed-toe shoes are a must this time of year; the days of flip-flops are over.Make sure you spray them with insect repellant so the bugs don't attack.Keep a first aid kit on hand in your car or in your backpack if hiking or camping. You never know when someone will scrape a knee or a hand.Stay hydrated. Keep bottles of water and juice on hand.Disinfectant wipes. These will be very helpful if someone falls and gets their hands dirty or if they need to use them after going to the bathroom when a sink with soap and water isn't available.Light snacks. Keep packs of cookies or crackers or small pieces of fruit on hand for a snack.Your cell phone. Always make sure to fully charge your cell phone and add both emergency numbers and parent numbers to your contacts. If possible, keep a portable charger on hand.A camera. This is an extra reason to keep your cell phone charged. So you can take a lot of pictures. These outdoor activities will become cherished memories one day.Make sure you tell someone where you're going, who is with you, and what you are doing. We live in an uncertain world and you never know when your life will change in an instant. It's always good to let someone know where you are or are going to be.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:15:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/9-ways-to-impact-your-grandchildren-with-the-truth-of-christmas.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/9-ways-to-impact-your-grandchildren-with-the-truth-of-christmas.html Kathy Howard https://www.crosswalk.com/author/kathy-howard/ A couple of years ago, while speaking at a ladies’ Christmas event, something unexpected happened. I had planned to read portions of the Christmas story from Matthew 2 and Luke 2. But as I began to read from my open Bible, I discovered I did not need it.The words flowed from memory—KJV style.Here’s the truly amazing part: I’ve never worked to memorize those sections of Scripture. The passages were imbedded in my heart simply because my father read them to our family every Christmas Eve. My dad desired to keep our hearts and minds on the real meaning of Christmas. And God honored his commitment to impress God’s truth on his children (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).Although my husband and I intentionally worked to have a positive spiritual influence on our children, I know we also missed many opportunities to impact them with the truth. Often, the demands of daily life derailed good intentions. Sometimes, we allowed the urgent to overshadow the more important.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Drazen Zigic Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:30:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/rich-gifts-of-family-gatherings.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/rich-gifts-of-family-gatherings.html May Patterson https://www.crosswalk.com/author/may-patterson/ Perhaps you’re dreading getting together with your whole family this year. Hopefully, the following list will help you embrace the gifts of family gatherings. Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:23:36-05:00