When Grandparents Provide Childcare

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-07-12 15:10:42.683153-04:00

Joan greets her two grandchildren with a big smile, and an even bigger hug, at the beginning of each weekday. Joan doesn’t live with the children. But she’s there each morning to wake them up and start them on their day. The children count on it—and so do their parents.

Joan’s daughter and son-in-law leave for work as soon as Joan arrives at 7 a.m. By the time the adults return home at 6 p.m., Joan has had a full day. She’s prepared breakfast for both children, helped them dress, gotten her granddaughter on and off the school bus, and spent hours trying to keep up with her grandson—an active toddler. Phew! After a short—but quiet—evening in her own home, Joan returns to her grandchildren the next morning and repeats the same routine.

Joan isn’t alone. Many grandparents pitch in each week to take care of grandchildren. Like Joan, grandparents may stay with grandkids while parents are at work. Other grandparents care for grandchildren in the evenings and on weekends, allowing the parents to run errands or go to the movies.

Grandparents like Joan are more than just babysitters. They spend many hours with their grandchildren each week. They’ve gotten to know these children very well. And they have become guiding forces in their grandchildren’s lives. These grandparents aren’t technically raising their grandchildren, but they are doing important work. They are passing on family traditions, serving as trusted role models, and helping to nurture a whole generation of children.

How Many Grandparents Provide Childcare?

No one knows exactly how many grandparents provide childcare for their grandchildren. But research studies give us a few clues. The U.S. Census Bureau says that grandparents provide childcare for almost a quarter (23%) of children under the age of five. That number is even higher for youngsters who live only with their dads. Grandparents watch more than a third (34%) of these children. An even higher percentage (38%) of Hispanic preschoolers receives childcare from their grandparents.

Other studies tell us even more. One study appeared in the April 2001 issue of a journal called The Gerontologist. This study talks about how much time grandparents actually spend taking care of grandchildren each week. Almost one quarter (24%) of these grandparents watch grandkids between 10 and 29 hours a week. About 7 percent stay with grandchildren more than 30 hours a week.

Another recent study was conducted by Child Trends, a research group in Washington, D.C. This study suggests that most grandparent childcare providers are like our friend Joan. They are healthy grandmothers. They live near their grandchildren. And they care for children who are not yet in school.

Why Do Grandparents Provide Childcare?

Many grandparents babysit because they want to be part of their grandchildren’s lives. Others pitch in as a favor to their adult children. These adult children are looking for a loving relative to care for their kids. In addition, many adult children cannot afford the expense of private childcare.

Some grandparents babysit because they need the money. Almost 20 percent of grandparents in the Child Trends study get paid for the care they provide. These grandparents don’t charge their adult children as much as a daycare center would. But the extra money these grandparents earn is still very important to them.

Many grandparent childcare providers—more than half of them—work outside the home, says Child Trends. They do this in addition to minding grandchildren. Grandparents who work full time usually watch their grandkids at night and on the weekends. Grandparents with part-time jobs are more likely to watch their grandkids while an adult child works.

Challenges

It’s not always easy to keep childcare arrangements running smoothly. Watching kids can be stressful, especially for grandparents who work at other jobs. Conflicts can arise. Grandparents and parents may have different views about raising children. Parents may ask too much of grandparents. Grandchildren may not obey as well as grandparents would like. Grandparents may not like playing the “heavy” when discipline is required. These problems can be hard to resolve. But they can be resolved if parents and grandparents talk about them honestly and openly.

Fortunately, challenges are only part of the story. Every family member reaps many benefits when grandparents provide childcare. Grandparents get to form deep bonds with their grandkids. Grandchildren come to value the many gifts that grandparents give them. And adult children gain peace of mind and the satisfaction of knowing that their children are being cared for by a member of their very own family.

AARP Resources

A Grandparent’s Role in the Family
Tips for fitting into a changing family.

Safety First When it Comes to Grandchildren
Parents depend on grandparents to keep children safe. Here are some tips for doing just that.

Opportunities to Inspire Grandchildren Lurk Within Everyday Activities
Read these tips for ideas about how to involve grandchildren in creative activities.

Other Resources

Grandma and Grandpa Taking Care of the Kids
Read about the latest research on grandparents who provide childcare.

Who’s Minding the Kids?
This report contains the latest data on grandparent childcare from the U.S. Census Bureau.

A Grandparents' Guide For Family Nurturing & Safety
This guide from the Consumer Product Safety Commission will help you keep your grandchildren safe.