When Grandkids Attack

Has there ever been a child who could resist the urge to use Nana's sofa or bed as a trampoline? But it can be avoided. When the kids visit, emphasize your expectations for them, and especially distinguish "inside" and "outside" behavior, advises Denver psychotherapist Nancy Brooks, psychiatry expert on JustAnswer.com. "Explain that if they want to run, jump, and make noise, they need to go outside," she says, adding that most children respond well to clearly-defined limits and expectations. You can help, Brooks says, by giving the children an outlet for their energy when they start getting restless: "It's perfectly acceptable to say, 'Let's go outside for 20 minutes. When we come back, I'll start dinner while you wash up.'"