You’ve probably thought about what you want to leave your grandchildren in your estate plan, but have you also considered that there are other precious gifts you can leave them?
Kiplinger’s article “What Your Grandchildren Really Want You to Know,” highlights the fact that grandchildren want to know a lot of information and knowledge that their grandparents have. According to a study by Ancestry.com, here are the top 5 things Americans want to know about their grandparents:
- Stories of when they were young (72%)
- Childhood memories (62%)
- Where your family came from (62%)
- Their heritage (62%)
- Life advice (51%)
So, talk to your grandchildren about what you did (or do) for work, tell them about your parents, share where you and other family members were born, and make sure they know about family traditions that are important to you.
And the good news is that the advice you give your grandchildren is meaningful to them. Dr. Karl Pillemer of Cornell University writes, “Research shows that as many as 9 out of 10 adult grandchildren feel their grandparents influenced their values and behaviors.”
Make plans with your grandchildren and sit down and talk. You have a lot of information they want to know and you can have a positive impact on their future.
