Some parents worry that spending too much time with grandparents might lead to their kids being spoiled, but research suggests otherwise. A study conducted by the University of Oxford found that children who share close relationships with their grandparents exhibit fewer emotional and behavioral challenges and tend to interact more easily with their peers. Led by Professor Ann Buchanan, the study surveyed over 1,500 children and highlighted the critical role grandparents play in a child's development. The findings suggest that grandmothers often take on nurturing responsibilities, while grandfathers frequently act as mentors, creating a balance that benefits children in meaningful ways.
Children who spend time with grandparents are happier and more secure, studies reveal
Parents might think time with grandparents spoils kids, but that's not true.
If you were fortunate enough to grow up with your grandparents, those moments likely hold a special place in your heart. What you may not have realized is that their influence was shaping you into a more secure and emotionally balanced adult. Whether it's guiding children through tough experiences like bullying or divorce or simply offering an extra layer of love and support, grandparents have a profound impact on a child's overall well-being. Now, science has stepped in to confirm what many have long suspected.
Kimberly Agresta, the co-founder of Englewood’s Agresta Psychotherapy Group, has also noticed the significant benefits of allowing grandparents to be more involved in children's lives. "If parents regularly involve grandparents in their child’s life early on, a child can develop real emotional closeness to the grandparent and begin to see the grandparent as a source of strong social support," she stated in an interview. "So a child will feel that they have other adults, aside from their parents, who love and care about them in the same way, and this adds to their sense of stability and security." This sense of security can be imperative as a child passes through several phases of life.
She continued, "In potentially traumatic situations, like if a child’s parents are divorcing or they’re being bullied at school, those situations are less impactful because they have other people in their lives who they have these attachments to and support from." This is because grandparents don't generally take on parenting roles - there are no punishments to be dealt out or responsibilities to be held accountable for. "Since grandparents are generally not responsible for disciplining or raising the child, they’re able to love the child a little more freely and unconditionally than a parent," Agresta explained, sharing the various roles grandparents take on. "Grandparents are a wealth of knowledge and information, and not only can they pass on valuable skills from real-life experience, but they can also share the past with their grandchildren. They can serve as historians, sharing all kinds of traditions and stories about when their own children were growing up, which creates a sense of continuity for a child." So it looks like it may be time to set up a play date for your kids with the 'rents!
This article originally appeared 4 years ago.
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