Recent changes in family and society have meant that the roles grandparents take on have changed. Many grandparents are playing a bigger and more responsible part of grandchild care than they may have expected, which means additional pressures on their time, their health and their finances. The increasing importance of grandparents, particularly as carers for children, has positive effects for society as a whole and needs support to continue to be effective.

Why is this issue important?

Changes in society over the last two decades have led to changed roles and greater responsibilities for many grandparents. These changes include:


	the increase in the proportion of families with young children where both parents are in the paid workforce
	smaller family sizes and a subsequent reduction in the number of extended family members
	an increase in the rates of abuse of drugs and alcohol
	the increase in rates of separation and divorce
	the increasing geographical dispersal of familie

Centre for Community Child Health

English

Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO)

 No 19 2010 
 
Initiative of:                       
 
 
 
POLICY BRIEF 
Translating early childhood research evidence to inform policy and practice 
The Changing Role of Grandparents 
Recent changes in family and society have meant that the roles grandparents take on have 
changed. Many grandparents are playing a bigger and more responsible part of grandchild 
care than they may have expected, which means additional pressures on their time, their 
health and their finances. The increasing importance of grandparents, particularly as carers for 
children, has positive effects for society as a whole and needs support to continue to be 
effective. 
 
 
Why is this issue important? 
Changes in society over the last two decades 
have led to changed roles and greater 
responsibilities for many grandparents. These 
changes include:  
• the increase in the proportion of families with 
young children where both parents are in the 
paid workforce  
• smaller family sizes and a subsequent 
reduction in the number of extended family 
members 
• an increase in the rates of abuse of drugs 
and alcohol  
• the increase in rates of separation and 
divorce  
• the increasing geographical dispersal of 
families  
While secure attachment to parents is seen as 
critical to children’s wellbeing, it is often 
overlooked that there are advantages in having 
attachments to a number of significant adults 
(CCCH, 2009; Silverstein, 1991; Tizard, 1986). 
Bonds with grandparents mean that children 
not only have back-up care but have several 
people to influence their development.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact between grandparents and grand-
children can be mutually satisfying. However, 
when grandparents have too much 
responsibility for a grandchild or grandchildren, 
with inadequate support, the role can lose its 
‘magical elements’ (Hillman 1999; Kornhaber 
1996).  
What does the research tell us? 
Contact between grandparents and their 
grandchildren 
The majority of grandparents want to spend 
time with their grandchildren – although the 
roles they play in their grandchildren’s lives 
may differ. Grandparents have differing 
relationships with each family of grandchildren 
and also with individual grandchildren (Cherlin 
& Furstenberg, 1985; Kornhaber, 1996; Troll, 
1985). Some grandparents have quite formal 
relationships, some are informal and playful, 
some see themselves as the keepers of family 
wisdom, while others are content to be more 
distant figures (Neugarten & Weinstein, 1964). 
Grandfathers who feel that they did not spend 
enough time with their own children often find 
special satisfaction in the time they spend with 
their grandchildren (Ochiltree, 2006). Families 
that have no grandparents available some-
times report that they are missing out. Not all 
grandparents have close relationships with 
their grandchildren. 
Contact with grandchildren depends not only 
on the wishes of the grandparents but also on 
their relationship with the parent generation 
“While secure attachment to parents is 
seen as critical to children’s wellbeing, it 
is often overlooked that there are 
advantages in having attachments to a 
number of significant adults.” 
Policy Brief No 19 2010:  The Changing Role of Grandparents 2 
www.rch.org.au/ccch/policybriefs.cfm 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
and the demands on the grandparents’ time 
from more than one family of grandchildren. 
Where there is a difficult relationship with the 
parents, grandparents are less likely to have a 
close relationship with grandchildren (de Vaus, 
1994). The relationships between grand-
parents and grandchildren change over time as 
the children develop and grow, as other 
grandchildren are born, and as the 
grandparents grow older (Kornhaber, 1996). 
Children who have frequent contact with 
grandparents have the most favourable 
attitudes to grandparents, especially to 
maternal grandparents.  
A major Australian study has found that most 
preschool children do, in fact, have regular 
contact with their grandparents (Gray, Misson 
& Hayes 2005). Over 97 per cent of infants and 
of four to five year olds have face-to-face 
contact with at least one grandparent. Parents 
report that the relationship between their 
children and grandparents is ‘close’ or ‘very 
close’, although maternal grandparents are 
more likely to be ‘very close’ (Weston & Qu, 
2009).  
Grandparents and children 
In recent years, grandparents have become an 
important source of childcare (Hayes, Weston, 
Qu & Gray, 2010). In fact, they are the major 
providers of informal childcare for infants and 
toddlers (0-2 years) when parents are working 
or studying; more than half (52%) of children in 
this age group who are in childcare are in the 
informal care of grandparents (ABS, 2005 A). 
An overwhelming majority of parents report 
being very satisfied (92.4%) or satisfied (7.1%) 
with grandparent care (NICHD, 1996). 
Grandparent care is also more flexible than 
formal care and it usually costs nothing (ABS, 
2005 A; Gray, Misson & Hayes, 2005). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grandparents from linguistically and culturally 
diverse families are more likely to care for their 
grandchildren than grandparents in the broader 
community. Sometimes this is a cultural 
expectation but often it is in response to the 
needs of their children (the parents) as both 
parents work to give their children a start in a 
new life (Drysdale & Nilufer, 2000; Lever, 
1995). Many grandparents also want to pass 
on the traditions and language of their home 
country to their grandchildren. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) 
cultures in Australia, grandparents may carry 
both an obligation and a responsibility for their 
grandchildren, and the term ‘grandmother’ or 
‘grandfather’ may extend to other family 
members of that generation. Grandchildren 
may also carry responsibility or obligation 
duties for their grandparents. ATSI grand-
parents are more likely to be significantly 
younger and less healthy than non-ATSI 
grandparents, and to be struggling with 
transmission of language and culture in the 
face of personal and community 
circumstances.  
Caring for grandchildren is a satisfying role and 
provides the grandparents a central position 
within the family, although grandparents 
sometimes feel tired and need more time to 
themselves (Drysdale & Nilufer, 2000; Lever, 
1995; Goodfellow & Laverty, 2003). 
Grandparents also feel that the caring role 
should be negotiated to allow them to have 
some personal choices and balance in their 
own lives (Goodfellow & Laverty, 2003).  
Bringing up grandchildren 
The most profound change for grandparents is 
the increasing number of them who are 
bringing up grandchildren. Where once child 
rearing by grandparents was a result of the 
death, illness or disability of parents, these 
days it is usually as a result of drug or alcohol 
abuse (Patton 2003, 2004). In 2003 there were 
22,500 grandparent families in Australia and 
31,100 children aged up to 17 years were 
being brought up by their grandparents (ABS, 
2005 B). Many ATSI grandparents, mostly 
grandmothers, are bringing up grandchildren 
(Sam, 1992).  
 
“[Grandparents] are the major providers 
of informal childcare for infants and 
toddlers (0-2 years) when parents are 
working or studying.” 
“Where once child rearing by 
grandparents was a result of death, 
illness or disability of parents, these 
days it is usually a result of drug or 
alcohol abuse.” 
Policy Brief No 19 2010: The Changing Role of Grandparents 3 
www.rch.org.au/ccch/policybriefs.cfm 
 
 
 
Bringing up grandchildren brings with it not 
only increased responsibilities for 
grandparents, but also financial and legal 
issues, as well as, changes in lifestyle, health 
and wellbeing. The grandchildren may have 
lived lives characterised by disorder, 
confusion, neglect and inconsistent parenting, 
which is likely to have affected their physical, 
intellectual, and psychosocial development 
(Fitzpatrick, 2003, 2004; Gruenert, 2004; 
Patton, Patton, 2003, 2004).  
There are several pathways to grandparent 
responsibility for bringing up grandchildren, 
including an informal arrangement; a 
Children’s Court Care and Protection Order as 
the result of an application from child 
protection authorities; or a Family Court of 
Australia parenting order (Ochiltree, 2006). 
These pathways may overlap and each has 
different financial and legal implications for 
grandparents which are often difficult to 
negotiate.   
Where the initial care arrangement is informal 
– whether because of intervention by child 
protection authorities who place children with 
grandparents in an emergency situation, or 
because the grandparents have taken over 
care from parents through their own initiative – 
there are likely to be legal difficulties that 
impact on financial supports for grandparents. 
The grandparents may have to take action in 
the family court to obtain legal responsibility for 
their grandchildren. Until that time it can be 
difficult to obtain a Medicare card; consent for 
medical procedures; enrol children in school or 
childcare; or access Child Care Benefit or 
Family Tax benefits. These legal issues add to 
the financial burden on grandparents.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Generally grandparent families have lower 
incomes than other families and a little under 
two thirds (62 per cent) are living on 
government benefits and pensions. 
 
Many are single grandparents without a 
partner (ABS, 2005 B). The costs and 
responsibilities of raising grandchildren mean 
that many grandparents are unable to do the 
things that they planned to do in retirement and 
even those that are still in the workforce may 
be unable to save for the future. These 
grandparents might experience isolation from 
friends and have fewer opportunities to indulge 
their grandchildren because they are 
responsible for parenting tasks and discipline. 
Their own health is affected because of stress, 
the additional workload and managing 
sometimes difficult children. They may also 
worry about dying before the grandchildren 
have left their care (Fitzpatrick 2004; Lee, 
Colditz, Berkman & Kawachi 2002; Minkler & 
Fuller-Thompson 2001; Jendrek 1993).  
Separation and divorce  
The separation and divorce of the parents of 
their grandchildren is also affecting 
grandparents. Almost half (49.8 per cent) of 
divorces in 2004 involved children and more 
than 60 per cent of these divorces involved 
children who were under 10 years of age 
(ABS, 2008). Although children’s relationships 
with their grandparents after separation and 
divorce are usually worked out informally, 
hostilities within some families can make it 
impossible for grandparents to see their 
grandchildren. Depending on the residence 
arrangements, the children may have closer 
contact with one set of grandparents and 
tenuous contact or no contact with the other 
grandparents (Weston, 1992). Paternal 
grandparents are likely to have less contact if 
the grandchildren are living with their mother, 
although total loss of contact is relatively rare.  
Under recent changes to the Family Law Act, 
grandparents who have lost contact with 
grandchildren can apply to Family Relationship 
Centres for an order to see their grandchildren 
(Ochiltree, 2006). However, the principle of the 
‘child’s best interests’ applies to any decisions 
and may overrule grandparents’ rights for 
contact.  
Grandparents are also affected when the 
parent or parents re-partner or remarry. The 
new partner and grandparents must get to 
know each other and there may be jealousy or 
rivalry. The grandparents may have to adjust to 
new step-grandchildren (Ochiltree, 2006).  
 
“The costs and responsibilities of raising 
grandchildren mean that many 
grandparents are unable to do the things 
that they planned to do in retirement and 
even those that are still in the workforce 
may be unable to save for the future.” 
Policy Brief No 19 2010:  The Changing Role of Grandparents 4 
www.rch.org.au/ccch/policybriefs.cfm 
 What are the implications of the research?  
• Grandparent care contributes to society as well as family. Through 
the provision of childcare, grandparents contribute not only to their own 
family but also – and often without recognition – to the broader society. 
Some families find it impossible to afford formal childcare and some 
find it difficult to find places for babies and toddlers. Grandparent 
childcare saves society the cost of providing more formal childcare 
places and is usually free of charge to families and to the state. 
• Grandparent care is more flexible than formal childcare. 
Grandparents help families balance their work and family commitments 
and fill the caring gaps by picking up their grandchildren from 
childcare, preschool and school, and caring for them until parents 
arrive home. Grandparents also do extra care during school holidays 
and often when care is needed unexpectedly, including overnight when 
necessary.  
• Grandparents are important for grandchildren in difficult times. 
Grandparents can be an important source of comfort and security for 
grandchildren after the separation and/or divorce of their parents 
because grandparents are familiar and are associated with stability.  
• Grandparents need recognition and support. Grandparents who are 
bringing up grandchildren need societal and institutional recognition of 
the important role they are playing. They need understanding that they 
are often under financial, emotional and sometimes legal stress. 
Grandparents may need information and support to find out what 
financial and legal support they are entitled to and what assistance is 
available with behaviour management and child development issues. 
Considerations for policy and programs 
• Grandparents cannot simultaneously be working in full-time paid 
employment and taking on the role of formal or informal carer of their 
grandchildren. Policy makers will need to consider where the role of 
the grandparent provides the most value; as childcare providers or as 
paid employees. This decision will have significant implications for 
policies developed in the childcare and workforce portfolios and 
funding allocated to these areas.  
• Grandparents placed in the difficult position of rearing their 
grandchildren at a time when their own health may be declining require 
access to affordable and culturally sensitive support services. They 
also require access to parenting information on behaviour 
management and child development issues and specific education on 
contemporary methods of obtaining parenting and health information, 
such as via the internet or other online learning programs. Such 
services will be required to employ unique engagement strategies to 
reach their target population. 
• Some grandparents find themselves in a position where they hold 
financial, but not legal, responsibility for their grandchildren. While 
financial and legal issues within family law are always challenging, the 
focus could be in the first instance on providing grandparents with 
accessible information about their rights, responsibilities and any 
support available to them. Financial and legal support services need to 
formally recognise the changing role of grandparents in often complex 
family situations, and ensure future policy incorporates the role of the 
grandparent.  
• Grandparents taking on a significant childcare role often do so at the 
expense of their own retirement plan. Greater formal recognition of the 
significant contribution grandparents make, not only to their own 
immediate family, but to the broader society, could be made at the 
state and federal level.  
Policy Briefs 
Policy Briefs aim to stimulate 
informed debate about issues 
that affect children’s health and 
wellbeing. Each issue draws on 
current research and 
international best practice.  
 
A multi-disciplinary team from the 
Centre for Community Child 
Health produces these Policy 
Briefs.   
 
An editorial board of national 
experts, and an advisory group of 
international experts in children's 
policy and service delivery 
provide peer review and advice.  
 
 
References 
A full list of references and 
further reading used in the 
development of this Policy Brief 
is available from: 
www.rch.org.au/ccch/policybriefs.cfm 
 
 
Next Policy Brief 
Policy Brief No.20 will address 
Physical Punishment. 
 
 
 
Subscribe 
To receive Policy Brief e-alerts 
please visit:  
www.rch.org.au/ccch/mailinglist.cfm 
 
 
The Centre for Community Child 
Health is at the forefront of 
research into early childhood 
development and behaviour. The 
Centre is committed to translating 
research to inform public policy, 
service delivery and practice.  
 
 
 
Centre for Community Child Health 
The Royal Children’s Hospital 
Melbourne 
Flemington Road 
PARKVILLE  3052 
Victoria  Australia 
 
 
Tel:  +61 3 9345 7085 
Email: enquiries.ccch@rch.org.au 
Web:   www.rch.org.au/ccch 
 


The changing role of grandparents

http://apo.org.au/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?nid=53075&file=http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/grandparents_template_print.pdf

The changing role of grandparents

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO)