TEENS AND GRANDPARENTS by Terri Bittner

I. Fill in the gaps with the right prepositions.

Grandparents can enrich a teenager's life (1)______ many ways. The problem is that many teens find visits (2)
______ grandparents dull and try (3) ______ avoid spending time (4) ______ them. In our house, every
Thursday is Grandma Day. Whether our teens feel like it or not, they go (5) ______ spend the day (6) ______
Grandma.

If a grandparent is older and perhaps (7) ______ poor health or in a poor mental state, it is important (8)
______ help your teen learn who their grandparent was in younger days. They may have no memory (9)
______the grandparent as anything more than she is right now. Show your teens pictures (10) ______ their
grandparents as young people and tell them the stories you know (11) ______ their lives. It can be surprising
(12) _____ teens that a frail grandparent was once an athlete or an artist. If the grandparent is able (13)
______ share her own life (14) ______ the teen, ask your teens (15) ______ assist in creating a genealogy of
the family, including the life story (16) ______ their grandparent. As a family, create a list (17) ______
questions you want to ask and then divide them (18) ______ small, related chunks. It is often difficult (19)
______cover too much ground (20) ______ once, so keep the interviews short. Children can take turns visiting
the grandparent and doing the interviews (21) ______ the help (22) ______ a tape recorder. It can also be
special (23) _____ videotape the interviews, creating a memory that will become more valuable (24) ______
the teen as he gets older.

Ask grandparents to work (25) ______teens (26) ______ a project. Does the grandparent have a talent he can
share (27) ______your teen? Passing on these skills preserves a legacy, which allows the teen (28) ______
someday tell his grandchild, "My grandmother taught me (29) ______crochet and now I'm teaching you." When
a teen comes to you (30) ______ advice, consider sending him (31) ______ a grandparent. Suggest that the
grandparent has a better perspective (32) ______ the situation. This can promote closeness as well as foster
self-esteem. A parent often feels compelled (33) _____ be critical; a grandparent can be accepting (34) _____
no need to correct. Instead (35) ______ being the family news bearer, send your child (36) ______ pass along
news himself. If a grandparent lives far away, here are some suggestions: Consider purchasing a computer (37)
______ the grandparent who does not have one. Hook them (38) ______the Internet as a gift and have the
teen keep (39) ______ touch through email and chat rooms. Set up a private web page where your teen and the
grandparent can each have a section in which (40) _____ display pictures, messages and stories. Encourage
your teen (41) ______write to his grandparents. In this day (42) _____ email, that is probably a unique
educational experience. Ask teenagers to “serve” their grandparents. Teens can run errands, prepare food,
clean house and walk (43) ______ a frail relative. Don't allow your teen to grow up wishing he had known his
grandparents better. He does not have to initially think they are cool, but (44) ______time, a close relationship
can develop (45) _____ them.

II. SPEAKING ACTIVITY

A. PERSONAL LIFE – Answer the following questions.

1. How often do you visit your grandparents? 2. What type of relationship do you have with them?

B. Group/Class – “Grandparents provide a sense of continuity and history. They can be a shoulder to cry on and
provide reassurance and comfort.” (Dore Frances)- Do you agree or disagree? Account for your answer.
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