Sessions on July 8 and 15 to cover infant safety response and age-appropriate play; 30 spots per session available on a first-come, first-served basis via online registration
Gwangjin-gu (district mayor Kim Gyeong-ho) will run a "Grandparent Classroom" program in July to strengthen the caregiving skills of grandparents raising grandchildren and to foster a family-centered childcare environment.
The program was designed in response to the growing prevalence of "twilight parenting" — grandparents stepping in as primary caregivers — driven by the rise of dual-income households. It targets Gwangjin-gu residents who are already caring for grandchildren or are preparing to do so. The content focuses on practical, everyday skills: how to respond to infant and toddler safety emergencies, and how to bond with grandchildren in a changing childcare landscape.
Classes will be held at the health education room on the second floor of the Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center on July 8 and July 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, with 30 participants per session.
The first session, on July 8, is themed "Guardian of Our Grandchild's Safety." Participants will learn about the types of safety accidents that can occur at different infant ages, how to respond to various emergencies, and techniques including the Heimlich maneuver and CPR. A certified infant and toddler disaster safety instructor will lead the class, helping grandparents respond calmly and quickly in urgent situations.
The July 15 session will focus on "Play Activities to Share with Your Grandchild." It will introduce easy, everyday play methods suited to grandchildren's developmental stages — picture-book play, music play and facial-expression games, among others. Led by a specialist instructor in childbirth and parenting education, the session will cover a range of activities that build closeness with grandchildren without requiring special materials or elaborate preparation.
Residents wishing to participate can complete and submit the online application form posted in the news section of the Gwangjin-gu Office website. For further details on the program or registration, contact the Health Management Division of the Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center.
Gwangjin-gu also runs year-round maternal and child health programs to provide information on pregnancy and parenting.
These include a Happy Birth Preparation Class and a Prenatal Exercise Class for expectant mothers, a Couples' Empathy Class where couples learn about childbirth and parenting together, a Mother and Baby Health-Up Class covering infant growth and development, and a Hands-On Parenting Class — offering timely information at each stage and encouraging family involvement in childcare.
"Raising a child becomes far more reassuring when the whole family is involved, not just the parents," district mayor Kim said. "I hope this program helps create a healthy, multigenerational parenting environment, and we will continue to expand substantive programs that all family members can take part in."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
