4 Reasons Your Granddaughter Might Be Closed Off
Stranger Danger:
If your granddaughter doesn’t know you well, she might be trying to protect herself from a stranger. In other words, maybe she just doesn’t know you yet!
Uncomfortable Behavior
Your granddaughter might be uncomfortable with your behavior. Maybe she doesn’t like kisses on the cheek, or perhaps your hugs are too tight!
Loyalty to Their Parents
Some kids exhibit fierce loyalty to their parents. If they’ve overheard their parents complain about you, they might take on that perspective as their own. This is a tough one to overcome!
Strange Smells and Sounds
Your granddaughter might be put off by your scent (are you using a strong smelling perfume or lotion?) or they may feel like you talk too loudly. It’s common for kids to struggle with sensory overload, especially when meeting new people.
How to build a deep bond with your grandchild
Here are 3 strategies you can use to get to know your granddaughter better and build a life-long relationship fully of great memories.
Time is love
The more time you spend with her, the better. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes! Stop by her house and bring her pretty flowers. Even if you’re far away, you can FaceTime and read her a bedtime story from afar!
Get into your child ego state
Tap into your inner child! Get on the floor (if possible) and play with her at her level. Act goofy together, use fun voices, make up songs! She’ll warm up to you quickly if you can get into your child ego state.
Learn about her
The more time you spend with her, the easier it will be for you to get to know her. Learn about her preferences, find out what developmental stage she’s in, and get to know her sense of humor. You can use this knowledge to strengthen your bond with her over time.
The Bottom Line
If you feel like your granddaughter doesn’t like you, it might be true! But don’t give up hope. Try to spend more time with her and get to know her better so she can warm up to you. Keep trying!
What You Should Do Next…
1. Snag Our Connected Parent Challenge
Are you ready for more activities to build a rock-solid bond with your kids? Try our Connected Parent Challenge! It’s 15 Days of 15 Minute activities that are sure to improve your connection, diminish bad behavior, and create lasting memories. Plus, I’ll deliver more amazing parenting strategies to your inbox weekly (don’t worry, unsubscribe any time!).
2. Join Our Free Online Community
Connect with like-minded moms (and dads!) in our free online community. You’ll find a plethora of resources to help you through your parenting challenges. Plus, you’ll find me there! And I’d love to connect.
3. Take a Free 60-Minute Parenting Webinar
Do you need actionable strategies right now? Register for this free 60-minute webinar titled How to Get Kids to Listen, Without Nagging, Yelling or Losing Control. You’ll walk away with parent-tested tactics to get your kids to listen starting today.