Contact: Amy Karjala, Christian Grandparenting Network, 503-680-9325, akarjala@dotheword.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- Feeling the effects of the current economic crunch, many parents are opting to ship their kids to grandparents' homes in lieu of pricey summer camps, according to a recent article published on the Baltimore Sun's website - a decision that Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) Executive Director Cavin Harper says will bring families benefits beyond the fiscal.
"Kids need their grandparents," says Harper. "Allowing a child to visit for a weekend or longer not only strengthens the intergenerational bond in families, but also develops a life-changing relationship between grandparent and grandchild."
While conventional camps offer activities from swimming to canoeing to singing around the campfire, they fall short when it comes to building long-lasting relationships, contends Harper.
"When kids go to camp, they often have a special friend or a counselor with whom they relate," says Harper. "But when everyone heads back home, those ties are often broken. The child is left without the support or guidance he or she may have found at camp. That is not the case with grandparents who are in it for the long haul. That's why we started GrandCamps -- grandparents and grandchildren go to camp together -- to preserve the best of both worlds."
Arthur Kornhaber, in his book The Grandparent Guide, wrote that "grandchildren need heroes, and grandparents often can fill that role pretty well. Children need someone to look up to, someone they can model themselves after, and someone to inspire them." CGN agrees and offers grandparents the tools to do just that: To become heroes, mentors, and even spiritual leaders to their grandchildren.
In addition to GrandCamps, CGN also offers an e-devotional, Carry the Torch, offered to grandparents free of charge. Weekly, grandparents can find tips, articles, and ongoing guidance on how to best invest in the life of a grandchild--during the remaining summer days and beyond. Interested individuals can learn more about GrandCamps and sign up for the newsletter, Carry the Torch at www.christiangrandparenting.net. To discover more about CGN or find additional ways to build the grandparent-grandchild bond, call Cavin Harper at (719) 522-1404.
