Who spoils the grandkids more? Shocking results reveal which grandparents take the top spot
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Do you remember your childhood when you had to choose between going to your maternal or paternal grandparents’ house, and you instinctively knew which would have the most treats, games, stories, and surprises? You had a hunch, but now we may finally have scientific evidence to back up what all kids have suspected—maternal grandparents spoil their grandkids more than paternal grandparents.
A recent study of 1,400 children in England and Wales, aged 11 to 16, examined factors like how often each grandparent saw the grandchildren, provided care, offered financial assistance, and was generally dependable. The results point to a clear winner in the spoiling stakes—your mother's mother reigns supreme when it comes to doting on her beloved grandkids. So, it seems the extra attention from all those sleepovers and special outings wasn't just your imagination.
But what's the reason behind this phenomenon? Theories point towards evolution and a survival mechanism ingrained in our genes. Maternal grandmothers, who gave birth to their daughters and witnessed the arrival of the next generation, can be certain of their blood relation to the grandchildren. This differs from the more distant connection liable to doubts entering our caveman brains about possible affair-related offspring for both paternal grandparents or grandfathers in general.
Further speculation suggests that women evolved to provide care and nurturing, going the extra mile to support their daughters in raising the next generation. In contrast, men, with an evolutionary inclination to procreate with multiple partners, do not allocate as much focus on caring for and spoiling their grandchildren.
The pecking order of grandparental affection, as observed in the study, places maternal grandmothers at the top, followed by maternal grandfathers. In third place, we find paternal grandmothers, and lastly, the seemingly 'forgotten' paternal grandfathers. These findings are courtesy of a team from the University of Turku in Finland, whose work features in the journal Biology Letters.
Studies have suggested that grandparent involvement in a child's life can have a positive impact on their social and emotional development, resilience, and mental health. Grandparents often act as ‘psychological parents’, providing a sense of security and guidance and helping to instil important values in their grandchildren. This can buffer the child from stressors and reduce the risk of mental health problems in adolescence, as well as offer the child opportunities to learn from the wisdom of life experience.
Moreover, spending quality time with grandparents can also contribute to cognitive development and language acquisition. At the same time, exposure to multiple generations encourages the development of empathy and understanding between generations, cultures, and lifestyles.
At the Seniors Discount Club, we are grateful for all the love, time, and energy that grandparents dedicate to their grandchildren and recognise their crucial role in teaching life skills, sharing wisdom, and passing down cherished memories to subsequent generations. Let's celebrate our grandparents and all they do for us, whether it's spoiling us a little (or a lot) or providing access to valuable educational opportunities.
So next time you're with your grandkids, dare to break free from the norms and spoil them with loads of love, attention, and maybe even an extra biscuit or two. Happy spoiling!
A recent study of 1,400 children in England and Wales, aged 11 to 16, examined factors like how often each grandparent saw the grandchildren, provided care, offered financial assistance, and was generally dependable. The results point to a clear winner in the spoiling stakes—your mother's mother reigns supreme when it comes to doting on her beloved grandkids. So, it seems the extra attention from all those sleepovers and special outings wasn't just your imagination.
But what's the reason behind this phenomenon? Theories point towards evolution and a survival mechanism ingrained in our genes. Maternal grandmothers, who gave birth to their daughters and witnessed the arrival of the next generation, can be certain of their blood relation to the grandchildren. This differs from the more distant connection liable to doubts entering our caveman brains about possible affair-related offspring for both paternal grandparents or grandfathers in general.
Further speculation suggests that women evolved to provide care and nurturing, going the extra mile to support their daughters in raising the next generation. In contrast, men, with an evolutionary inclination to procreate with multiple partners, do not allocate as much focus on caring for and spoiling their grandchildren.
The pecking order of grandparental affection, as observed in the study, places maternal grandmothers at the top, followed by maternal grandfathers. In third place, we find paternal grandmothers, and lastly, the seemingly 'forgotten' paternal grandfathers. These findings are courtesy of a team from the University of Turku in Finland, whose work features in the journal Biology Letters.
How Grandparents Impact Child Development
At the Seniors Discount Club, we recognise and celebrate the immense value that grandparents bring to the lives of their grandchildren. Grandparents have always played a crucial role in providing both emotional and practical support, and recent research has only served to reinforce this fact.Studies have suggested that grandparent involvement in a child's life can have a positive impact on their social and emotional development, resilience, and mental health. Grandparents often act as ‘psychological parents’, providing a sense of security and guidance and helping to instil important values in their grandchildren. This can buffer the child from stressors and reduce the risk of mental health problems in adolescence, as well as offer the child opportunities to learn from the wisdom of life experience.
Moreover, spending quality time with grandparents can also contribute to cognitive development and language acquisition. At the same time, exposure to multiple generations encourages the development of empathy and understanding between generations, cultures, and lifestyles.
At the Seniors Discount Club, we are grateful for all the love, time, and energy that grandparents dedicate to their grandchildren and recognise their crucial role in teaching life skills, sharing wisdom, and passing down cherished memories to subsequent generations. Let's celebrate our grandparents and all they do for us, whether it's spoiling us a little (or a lot) or providing access to valuable educational opportunities.
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