Grandparents as first teachers: stories, songs and everyday words

8 November 2026 · 3 min read

In many Indian homes, the first stories a child hears come from Dadi or Nani, the first songs from Nana or Dada, and the first "what is this called?" happens on a grandparent's lap. Grandparents are already great teachers. This article is about making the most of that, and about keeping everyone on the same page.

What grandparents give that no app can

Time and patience. A grandparent can answer "why?" for the fifteenth time.
Family stories. "When your Papa was small he was afraid of the dark." Children love real stories about their own family.
Rhymes, lullabies and folk songs passed down over generations, often in mother tongues or regional languages that are fading.
Language. Children who hear grandparents speaking Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi, Punjabi or any home language learn rich words and sayings. See raising a bilingual child.
Calm, unhurried attention and a feeling of belonging.

Everyday teaching moments

Grandparents do not need to "teach" anything special. Learning happens through ordinary things:

In the kitchen: "Count the rotis. Which vegetable is green?" Let your child wash vegetables or peel peas. See everyday maths in the kitchen.
While sorting: socks, buttons, spices, pulses. Sort by colour, size, shape.
On the balcony or in the garden: name plants, birds, clouds and the moon. Water the tulsi together.
With stories: folk tales, stories from the epics, tales of animals and clever children. Ask: "What do you think happens next?"
Through songs and rhymes: with actions. See songs with actions and why nursery rhymes matter.
By talking: name what you are doing and why. "I am wearing my specs, because I cannot see small things."
With old photographs: "This is your Mama when she was little."
With real tasks: folding clothes, laying out plates, arranging shoes.
During festivals: the best stories and customs. See festivals as learning time.

Reading aloud

Even if the grandparent cannot read the book's language, they can tell the story from the pictures in the language they know best. Both are valuable. Look at reading aloud to toddlers for ideas.

Working together kindly

Different generations sometimes have different ideas. A few tips:

Share the big rules kindly, such as screen time, sweets and bedtime. Explain why, and ask for their ideas too. See screens at mealtimes.
Avoid correcting in front of the child. Talk in private.
Appreciate what they do. "Thank you for the story. She asks about it every day."
Do not undermine each other. Children cope better with a few clear rules from all adults.
Let grandparents be grandparents. A few extra treats or a later bedtime on a visit is fine.
Share safety basics: child seats and road safety (see road safety), medicines and cleaners out of reach, and no spoon-feeding of whole nuts or hard food to small children.
For feeding and health, follow what your child's doctor says. This is general information, not medical advice.

When grandparents live far away

Use video calls for short story or rhyme times, send voice notes, or record a grandparent telling a story for your child to play before sleep. Keep calls short and calm, and watch your child's reaction. Video calls with family are the one kind of screen use that the AAP and WHO guidelines treat differently for the very young. See screen time guidelines.

How Child Runway helps

Child Runway lessons are 2 to 5 minute story lessons with a song and a game, and they come in six language versions (English, Hindi, Hindi + English, Spanish, Arabic and Portuguese). A grandparent can sit with the child, and the child answers, moves and sings along. After each lesson there is something to try at home, which grandparents can easily join. No ads, no chat, and a daily time limit.