Grandparents want to see their grandchildren grow up and become successful. For Christian grandparents, we understand that success is not measured by career or financial accomplishments as much as integrity of character and contentment in Christ and His purposes. The Apostle John said it well when he said, “I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the truth.”

So how do grandparents contribute to the success of their grandchildren, and in this case, their teenage grandchildren? I want to suggest at least five ways that could have significant impact.

This is by no means exhaustive list of effective ways to help your teenage grandchildren succeed. In fact, you may have even better ideas. I’d love for you to share them. One or two on my list might surprise you. Here’s the first one:

1. Help build a strong work ethic by challenging them to higher expectations.

Our grandchildren are growing up in a world of low expectations. The pop culture of today has relegated the teens years as good for little more than having fun. Teens are rarely given much to do beyond a little homework (the average in American high schools today is about one hour per week), and a few menial household chores.

Perhaps this isn’t true for your grandchildren. If it’s not, your grandchildren are fortunate. But for most American households it is true, and the consequences are enormous, especially for boys. An old African proverb says, “If a village fails to initiate its boys into manhood, those boys will burn down the village just to feel the heat.” It’s easy to see the evidence of that today.

If you want to help your teenage grandchildren really succeed, they need to learn to do hard things—things that push them toward maturity as responsible adults. It requires that grandparents be willing to step out of their own comfort zone and help their grandchildren live out their faith and their lives in ways that matter. Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” How can we help them learn that this is the way to really living life with a capital L?

Before David was king, he had the lowliest job of all—tending his father’s sheep. He did that while his brothers were all doing things that seemed much more interesting—fighting wars. But it was during this time of tending sheep that David learned the hard lessons of responsibility. It was the testing ground that developed him into a skilled marksman, a talented musician, a brave protector and fighter, and a gentle leader. Wisdom and skill only come through a disciplined life of hard work. It doesn’t hurt to also have a submissive spirit that is not afraid to do the dirty jobs.

So how can we as grandparents help our teenage grandchildren develop this kind of successful work ethic?

Raise the level of expectations. Give them responsibilities when they are with you that will challenge them with tasks that require some sweat and hard work—even if it’s cerebral work. Give them responsibilities that will stretch them. Show them that not everything in life is about entertainment or having fun, but that even hard work is rewarding.

Here are a few ideas for girls or boys. If these don’t work for you, use your creativity to come up with your own:

1. Have them help plan and prepare a complete meal…and clean up.
2. Challenge them to work with you to build a deck or other challenging project.
3. Show them how to plant and care for a garden.
4. Take them hunting and teach them how to dress out an animal and haul it out of difficult terrain.
5. Teach them to change a tire, check and change the oil, and replace fuses and bulbs.
6. Take them to work in a soup kitchen or rescue mission, or work with special needs kids.
7. Climb a fourteener or do a survival weekend.

Helping your teenage grandchildren learn the value of hard work will also help them not be taken captive to all the digital technologies around them. If you do it with the right approach they will discover it can be quite enjoyable, even if it is hard work.

Proverbs says, “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (14:23). Leave your grandchildren a legacy of hard work. They will bless you for it.

GRANDPAUSE: All our activity is sowing; and so is our inactivity. 
-John Blanchard

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS: What are ways you teach your grandchildren hard work, even as a long distant grandparent?