New research has confirmed what many Australian families already know and what many groups have long fought for – grandparents are unsung heroes and play an influential role in their grandchildren’s development. Growing up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Aust ralian Children, commissioned by the Federal Government, measures children’s physical, learning and cognitive development as well as social and emotional functioning. Its findings, released in late September, show that children between three and 19 months who are cared for by family and friends as well as their parents, have higher learning scores than those who receive care only from primary guardians.
Much of this extra care is provided by grandmothers and grandfathers. The research emphasised that grandparents are a strong support base for many families and that spending time with grandchildren, reading to them, cooking together, and taking them shopping are simple, everyday interactions that can make a big difference to children growing up.
More than 10,000 families with children took part in the study, which began in 2004 and involv ed inter views with each child and their family every two years. While many grandparents spend valuable time with their grandchildren, some are unable to do so.
Grandparents denied access to their grandchildren often face ongoing battles. The Council of Grand parents (COGS) and its chair Tracey Douglas have been working to put the spotlight on grandparents and the important role they play. She believes the study and its findings are very positive and a step in the right direction.
“These kind of studies are really important in backing up the work we’re doing,” Ms Douglas said.
“It’s a very good thing to have research, statistics and hard proof that grandparents are making a difference in the lives of their grandchildren.”
Ms Douglas said that, especially in light of the present economic situation, grandparents would play an even more crucial role in caring for their grandchildren, and needed to be involved in the decision-making process.
The Federal Government will use the research to help deliver policies deemed in the best interests of children.
To view the report visit www.fahcsia.gov.au/research/prp36/
To contact COGS, phone (07) 5596-5523.
