Workshops to help grandparents to raise grandchildren
Grandparents who raise their grandchildren have an opportunity to learn helpful communication and teaching skills.
The Child Development Center and Lab School will present two more free workshops on the topic of grandparents raising grandchildren.
The workshops are from 7 to 8:30 p.m., July 12 and 19, at the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, located at 701 S.W. 74th St.
Guest speakers will cover topics such as parenting and communication skills in regard to children of varying ages.
Some of the guest speakers include George Young, Human Services commissioner and minister, and Julie Geddes, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Teenline coordinator.
Young will speak about starting a grandparents-raising-grandchildren ministry in local churches.
Geddes speaks about effective communication with teens being raised by their grandparents.
The 2000 U.S. Census reported 4.5 million children under the age of 18 are being raised by their grandparents, according to www.egyptianaaa.org.
“Oklahoma is one of the largest areas in the country that has grandparents raise their grandchildren,” said Mary McCoy, CDCLS director.
The turnout for the workshops has been averaging about 20 people each time, but more interest is being generated.
“We want to give [grandparents] a feeling of encouragement and appreciation for what they are doing,” McCoy said.
Meals and child care are available for grandparents who wish to bring their grandchildren to the workshops.
In addition to the workshops, there will be a swimming party for “Grand-families” from 1 to 3 p.m., July 15 at the OCCC swimming pool.
There also will be another workshop teaching pre-school to pre-teen age children social skills and problem solving.
The lessons will be taught through board games that don’t have instructions, which allows the child to communicate with their grandparents to determine their next move.
The grandparents and the children also will read books together, but stop before the end and let the child decide what the resolution should be.
The workshop will be at 7 p.m., July 26 at the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Conference Room.
For more information on the workshops, contact McCoy at 405-682-1611, ext. 7612.
Staff Writer David Miller can be reached at StaffWriter1@occc.edu.
