Year after year, with the return to school, parents consider who to turn to in order to reconcile work and childcare: nursery school, a caregiver at home or the support of grandparents.
Although this is not always possible, especially if they live far away, the numbers seem to indicate that the bet remains in the closest circle of support: 71% of families turn to their grandparents to care for their children, according to a recent survey of Fundación Alares.
Benefits for the elderly and children
I, who have not had the fortune of having my parents close by on a daily basis, have always envied the families who counted on them to pick up the children from the nursery, give them a snack or take them to the park. And I can’t imagine a better caregiver with more love than a grandfather. In fact, science indicates that taking care of grandchildren has benefits for our elders.
Agree that, without abusing them, without turning them into slaves, but it is proven that this close relationship is beneficial for children and their grandparents.
According to the surveys carried out, among the things that our children value most and what they most missed both during their quarantine was sharing moments together. And studies ensure that grandparents who take care of their grandchildren live longer.
But not only because of the affective and emotional side, which for me is the most important, but also because of the financial support that involves the involvement of the elderly so that they do not have to pay for a nursery or a caregiver at home.
But also having someone who you know will take care of your little one with as much love as you when they get sick and thus not miss work continuously, something common when they are young and you cannot take them to kindergarten or school.
According to the Fundación Alares survey, on non-school days or the days when minors are sick, 70% of families also turn to their grandparents.
But grandparents are also there to take their grandchildren to extracurricular activities, training sessions or games: 50% of families turn to grandparents for support in leisure and free time activities.
Grandparents’ Help Scores Outstanding
It is true that the involvement of grandparents can also have its less positive part, since they influence the education of our children and have their own way of understanding how to do it. But if we make the limits clear and agree with them what we want for the children, it does not have to pose any problem.
And it seems to be the case, since according to the Aleres Foundation survey, 91% of the people surveyed value the help provided by the elderly between 7 and 10.
Mar Aguilera, director of Fundación Alares, points out how the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is and should be, without overloading tasks:
“When we go from one-time, voluntary care to permanent obligation, overload is not a good thing and can aggravate your health problems or lead to new ones.”
The survey also reflects that, although in 51% of the cases it is the grandparents as a couple who take care of the grandchildren , there is still a gender bias in the distribution of tasks: the grandmothers have food as their main task ( 32%), as well as bathing, dressing or giving them breakfast (25%). Meanwhile, the grandparents are mainly in charge of taking them to the park and to extracurricular and leisure activities (23%) and going to and from school (22%).
Via | Alares Foundation
Photos | iStock
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