How to Nurture Gifts and Talents in Your Grandchild

I love talking about my grandsons and being fairly new at the grandparenting stage myself, I am learning how to nurture and grow their God-given gifts and talents. I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts and experiences here on Type-A Mom, and then get some feedback from you on how you help to nurture and grow your grandchild’s God-given gifts and talents.

Nurturing Gifts and Talents in Our Grandchildren 

My oldest grandchild is 2 years and 3 months old. His dad is an awesome musician; drums, keyboard, bass and sings. My son-in-law’s older brother is also a very gifted musician, so I’m pretty sure my grandson got the gene as well. I think he came out of the womb playing drums. Ever since he could pick things up with his hands, he turned everything into drum sticks and even plays mean air drums! He also loves guitar! He has 2 or 3 toy guitars and plays a mean air guitar as well and calls it “rock show” when he does! I’m telling you, it’s the cutest thing ever! 

My husband and I, Papa Jeff and Nana as we love to be called, try to nurture his obvious love for music and musical instruments. As you can see in the picture, we encourage him to exercise his drumming skills whenever we can!Another thing we do to nurture his gifts and talents is to talk about drumming, music, playing guitar and so on. He really loves it and we make it a natural conversation. It’s never forced. He gets really excited and usually starts air drumming. Sometimes we have to take the “sticks” away because he starts “drumming”things he shouldn’t, like people…not a good idea! 

In addition to the things above, we will also help to get him music lessons, although he may not need them. His dad and uncle are self taught! I’m amazed by that! I have some musical ability on my side of the family, but nothing as natural as my son-in-law and his brother. (Yes, they have a band! The Andy Stefanic Band, a contemporary Christian band.)

Of course, we won’t be forcing him into a music career if he decides he doesn’t want to do that (I can’t imagine that happening as much as he loves music already). We will support him no matter what he chooses as a career. He could also grow up to be a great speaker! He started talking very early and talks really well for his age. Like I mentioned above, he is just over 2 and is already forming complete sentences. I think my 4 month old grandson will be an early talker too! He absolutely loves it when I talk baby talk to him; he coos and almost laughs! Probably because I sound so silly when I do and make ridiculous faces, but that’s beside the point! The other night when they were over for a visit, I was saying “hello” in the high pitched, grandmotherly baby talk voice and it sounded like he was saying it right back to me! He loves to hear his own voice as most babies his age who are discovering their voices do.

No matter what my grandkids decide to do when they get older, I will be sure to support and encourage them along the way. 

How about you? What do you do to help nurture and grow your grandchild’s natural gifts and talents? We’d love to hear your stories and suggestions, so be sure to leave a comment!

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