Filling the Empty Chair: Honoring and remembering grandparents and loved ones who have died
2025-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Grandparents have a wingspan of five generations and, as we’re living longer, it becomes six generations. I hold the stories of my grandparents, my parents, my siblings and me, my adult children, and grandchildren. — Dr. Jane Shapiro, Jewish educator As you enter this fabulous new era of Jewish grandparenting, check out the trends and articles below for day-to-day guidance and helpful tips.

Becoming a Grandparent

Read JGN’s take on how grandparents of all religions share a legacy of love, published in Grand Magazine.GRAND Magazine – Winter 2026 Started by a grandma interested in bridging the communication gap between grandparents and their adult children, More Than Grand offers a great article to address common grandparental fears.What New Grandparents Worry About (And What to Do) If you like stats and trends, this review is for you. Check out what’s happening across the country for grandparents.Grandparents Embrace Changing Attitudes and Technology

Our family stories have power — they link us to the generations that came before us, those to come, and to our collective Jewish narrative.Visit “Family Stories” in JGN’s Family Room Learn from the experts! View recordings of webinars on family dynamics, Jewish ritual and practice, and grandparenting from the heart.Check out JGN’s Webinar Recordings

It’s a Baby!

“Grandparents are a cornerstone of child care for kids under five.” — Zero to Three Below are some resources to help you engage with your wonderful new grandchild as one of the primary adult figures in their lives. Inspired by pioneering early childhood educator Magda Gerber, creating “YES spaces” offers children ownership of a safe place that encourages play, learning, creativity, agency, and a strong sense of self.YES Spaces – What They Really Are and Why They Matter See how connecting with babies in a real and respectful way strengthens the bond.Making a Soul Connection With Your Baby – Janet Lansbury

The Long Distance Grandparent offers practical and heartfelt guidance for grandparents who live far from grandchildren. Here are three ways to stay in close connection.Key Ways to Build Stronger Bonds with Your Grandchildren from a Distance Join JGN and grandmother Patty Wipfler, founder of Hand in Hand Parenting, to learn about children’s emotions and their unique relationship with you. See October 17, 2023.How Emotions Affect Your Grandchild’s Behavior Join JGN and Dr. Betsy Diamont-Cohen, an award-winning children’s librarian, on creative play with infants and young grandchildren. See May 15, 2024.How Grandparents Can Play with Infants and Young Grandchildren

Communication with Adult Children

The stronger the relationship with your adult children, the stronger your relationship will be with your grandchildren. — Ilene Cardin Vogelstein, past President, Jewish Grandparents Network

Read or listen to Patty Wipfler, grandparent and founder of Hand in Hand Parenting, talk about growing into the grandparent you want to be.How to be the Grandparent You Want to Be The always helpful More Than Grand shares ways to support your adult children when they become parents themselves.How to Support New Parents as a Grandparent — More Than Grand Join parent coach Adrian Kalikow as she guides us on what parents want grandparents to know. See January 31, 2023.Our Adult Children’s Voices Matter: What Parents Want Grandparents to Know

And read Adrian’s sound guidelines for adult child relationships, drawn from interviews with 160 parents of young children.You’re the Grandparent, Not the Parent: What Does That Mean? Here’s a great tool for assessing the grandparent’s role as child caregiver. It includes both parent and grandparent self-assessment worksheets.If You Only Knew: A Tool for Grandparent Caregivers

Safety Updates

Researchers and experts continue to update best practices for keeping babies safe.

How to put babies to sleepSafe Sleep Prepare yourself for developmental milestonesCDC’s Developmental MilestonesThe Baby Brain Map: Your Guide to Early Brain Development | ZERO TO THREE Child safety basics including car seats and travel, water safety, and safe storageA Grandparent’s Guide to Child Safety BasicsKeep Your Grandkids Safe Consider taking an in-person or virtual hospital course for new grandparentsHere’s one example

What Advice Are My Adult Children Getting?

Our children, the parents of our grandchildren, are often highly attuned to updated research on health and child development and many are informed by these practices and trends. Check out what parents are following:

The Mayo Clinic lists four main parenting styles: authoritative, permissive, authoritarian, and neglectful. The 4 Types Of Parenting Styles: What Style Is Right For You? Dr. Becky Kennedy is one of the biggest names — and influencers — in parenting right now.Dr. Becky’s keynote presentation at JGN’s Learning Fest. See January 27, 2027 See one of the most visited websites for parenting support.Big Little Feelings Author, podcaster, and one of the leading voices of Magda Gerber’s Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) movement, Janet Lansbury offers rich resources with a particular focus on babies and toddlers.Janet Lansbury “elevating child care” website

One of our favorites, Hand in Hand, is an international organization started by Patty Wipfler, then a parent, now also a grandparent, whose tools have spread from parent-to-parent and grandparents across cultures around the globe for 35+ years.Hand in Hand

Parenting and Grandparenting Books

Visit the Jewish Grandparents Network’s Bookshop to view and purchase accessible parenting and grandparenting titles.

Ahava Vogelstein, M.A. is an early childhood education consultant and researcher, Jewish singing facilitator, and matriarch enthusiast dedicated to supporting the spiritual, social-emotional, and familial health of young children and their families. Photographic CreditsBanner photograph by Terry KayeNew Grandchild by Terry KayeOur Family Stories by Terry KayePlay Space courtesy of PexelsGrandfather in Cap courtesy of Ilene VogelsteinCommunication with Adult Children courtesy of PexelsChild Car Seat by Terry KayeNew Parents courtesy of Pexels
