The importance of grandparents
There is an old Italian proverb which says, ‘If nothing is going well, call your grandmother.’ The image of the wise and patient grandparent is familiar on page and screen and for good reason – grandparents provide grounding and assurance for a family; they give advice and guidance as well as practical support in terms of childcare. In short, grandparents can have a huge impact on the happiness and well-being of the entire family and a healthy relationship between grandchildren and grandparents is a win for everybody.
Research suggests that children find unique acceptance in their relationships with grandparents, which benefits them emotionally and mentally. More than eighty per cent of adults say that their beliefs and values were influenced by their grandparents who provided consistent examples of what a true, positive relationship should look like. For children, having grandparents around often means having the perfect companions to play with; adults who have the time to focus and concentrate on the needs of the child. And it is great for the grandparents too – they get to exercise their imagination and stay youthful in their minds. Crucially, grandparents carry a natural aura of wisdom and children will often listen to their grandparents when they don’t want to listen to their Mum or Dad.