Staying Interesting: Grandparents’ Guide to Connecting with Grandkids

In a recent Grandparenthood conversation, Ben McEachen and Ian Barnett, founder of the National Grandparent Movement, explored whether grandparents need to keep up with trends to stay connected with their grandkids.

“I’d rather us use the phrase… should grandparents remain interesting,” Ian said.

Rather than chasing relevance or trying to be “cool”, he suggests focusing on what actually builds connection.

Being interesting matters more than trying to keep up with every trend.

Connection over relevance

For many grandparents, life changes significantly after retirement.

Roles shift, daily structures change and suddenly the question becomes how to stay connected with grandchildren in a rapidly changing world.

“It’s a question about… are you maintaining an interest in things? Are you interesting to your grandkids?” Ian said.

That interest might come through hobbies, stories or shared activities, not through trying to keep up with every new trend.

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The importance of showing up

In a world where trends change quickly, Ian says consistency matters more.

“Something seems to be relevant today… by tomorrow it’s not,” he said.

Instead of chasing that cycle, he points to something simpler.

“Did you turn up?”

Presence creates connection in ways trends never can.

Whether it is attending a game, making a phone call or simply spending time together, consistency builds trust and connection over time.

Being interested builds connection

Curiosity is one of the most practical ways to stay connected.

“If the kids are reading a book… what are you reading? How’s the story going?” Ian said.

At the same time, sharing your own interests can help build bridges.

From woodworking to storytelling or creative hobbies, these moments can become meaningful points of connection between generations.

Showing genuine interest often matters more than having the right answers.

A choice to stay engaged

Ultimately, staying connected is intentional.

“Being relevant… interesting is a choice,” Ian said.

It comes down to continuing to learn, staying curious and making the effort to invest in relationships over time. Grandparents do not need to chase trends to stay relevant. Instead, being present, curious and genuinely interested can build relationships that last far beyond what is “relevant” today.

Listen to the full conversation in the player above. All episodes of Grandparenthood are available on the podcast page.

Feature image: Canva Pro