Retired grandparents for school off day cares, anyone?
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Anonymous
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Both of my parents are retired, and they live 20 mins away. They speak really limited English, and my 2 kids do not understand or speak their languages. My kids do vacation & day camps as usual this summer. They have asked me why I don't send them to their home for the summer. The issue is that 1) they can't communicate with each other, 2) they let them on unlimited screentime, 3) they don't really take them out, except maybe driving them to a few places they only know. My parents do not really speak English, and they don't drive anywhere other than staying at their home. They don't know how to use gps.
They have done sleepover on long weekends at grandparent home a few times every year . My youngest daughter needs someone to play with and interact with her, and she feels bored normally at the end of first day because gransparents can't understand what she speaks. My oldest son is happy with screentime only. Their camps have a ton of activities. Next summer, should I let them to go there for one week/multiple weeks or just long weekends (3 days 2 night max)? |
Anonymous
| Teach your kids the language or let them. Problem solved. |
Anonymous
| That’s too bad that they didn’t learn your native language. Most Americans only speak English and it’s harder to learn a language without being immersed in it. |
Anonymous
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Could you ask them to teach the kids their language? That would be worth $100,000s of dollars. Ask them to speak it to them and teach them how to write and read. Ask them to teach them how to cook. Tell them no screen time except in the native language. Ask them to tell stories or teach the culture’s art.
Then take your kids outside in the evening or early morning for exercise. |
Anonymous
| Have them use an app. Send the kids over for 2-3 days. They can learn 500 words in your language. That's all it takes to be understood. |
Anonymous
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This would be a good week to send them there since it’s only a three day week. Maybe they can do a cooking/baking activity together, watch a movie, take a walk.
I’m an ESOL teacher and I only speak a limited amount of Spanish. Doing an activity together is a good way to exchange language in a fun way. |
Anonymous
| I think it would be great for your kids to learn their language. And I don’t worry about not knowing it - we have the same issue in our family and everyone can communicate despite the language barrier. But I’d still only do weekends. If they don’t really do things with your kids and camp is an option, that’s what I’d prefer. |
Anonymous
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Tell your parents your reasons - there's a language barrier, you don't take them out of the house enough for two energetic kids so they get way more screen time than we want them to have, etc.
Teach your kids the language though. |
Anonymous
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You seem to have a really negative view of your ILs, which is apparent from your post. You are not required to send them there on days off. As others have said, there could be benefits including language. But if grandparents aren't up to the task, then they are not.
For example my parents often help us out on days off but they usually come to our place. It would be too tiring for them to deal with our young energetic kids completely on their own but they are a huge help with us here to do some backup and logistics. |
Anonymous
+1. I don’t speak my husband’s native language but our kids understand it pretty well thanks to grandparent time (grandparents do not speak English). |
Anonymous
| How old are your kids and why don’t they speak any of your parents language? My kid is 3 and understands my ILs language and he’s seen them like twice his whole life. |
Anonymous
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How old are your kids? They can do so much together at home! Cook food, read books, play with toys, etc. Maybe get them some special toys they can only play with at their grandparents' -- magnatiles, a bicylce, whatever is age appropriate.
It is so nice that your parents are close. Send your kids there, build that relationship. 30 years from now they will look back and be happy to have had that time with them. Grandparents aren't meant to be parents, or camp, so it is ok if it is 100% what you would do. I only have a few memories with my grandparents (I lost them at a young age) and it is mostly of watching tv together or making food but I really cherish those memories. |
Anonymous
I don’t think it’s about their being up to the task, it’s about the mother not liking what they do with their time. Just don’t let the kids bring their electronics, the grandparents don’t have iPads or smart phones or video games. They have a TV, big deal. |
Anonymous
| Live in the now. Make small changes for the present. Don't waste time thinking about next summer. |
Anonymous
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Yes, I would absolutely have my kids with them more often. I would have been doing this from day 1; being bilingual is such a plus, and learning from someone who is a native speaker is ideal. Besides that, it's part of their culture. Teach your parents how to use google maps. Maybe give them one thing to do with the kids per visit, short close things. Show them how to use google maps and also print them instructions. Maybe eventually they'll be up for bigger outings.
I'm curious, are you fluent in the language, and if so, why haven't you taught your kids? |