There is something about the way grandparents talk to children that feels different. They may listen to the same story for the tenth time, answer endless questions, tell stories from a world the child has never seen and, sometimes, simply sit beside them without asking anything at all.It is easy to dismiss these moments as sweet family memories. But research increasingly suggests that a warm, supportive grandparent-grandchild relationship can be much more than that. Studies suggest that grandparents can contribute to children’s social, emotional and developmental wellbeing in ways worth paying attention to.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:25
Do you think social media has changed the parent-teen relationship?
Here are three reasons why.
1. Grandparents can give children another emotional safe place
Children do not necessarily tell every adult in their lives what they are feeling. Sometimes, the person they choose is the grandparent who has time to listen without immediately correcting, judging or solving the problem.
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A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis, published in the Behavioral Sciencesjournal examined 20 studies involving 11,434 children and adolescents. The researchers found that positive grandparenting styles were associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety.The idea is not that a grandmother or grandfather can magically “lower anxiety”. Rather, a dependable adult outside the parent-child relationship can give a child another source of reassurance, perspective and emotional connection.Another evidence comes from a 2025 study, published in the Frontiers in Psychology Journal, where 514 adults aged 18 to 29 were studied. Researchers found that people who reported to have received greater support from their grandparents during childhood reported to have much better emotional wellbeing.In other words, a grandparent’s role may not end when the child stops being a child.
2. Their stories, conversations and patience may support language and learning
Grandparents often bring something increasingly precious to childhood: time without an agenda. A child may ask why the moon follows the car, how their grandfather met their grandmother or what school was like 50 years ago. A grandparent may answer, tell a story, ask another question and keep the conversation going. Those ordinary exchanges matter because children’s language develops through interaction.
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A 2025 study on 33,342 children between age 1 to 5 found that children in grandparent-only and in homes where multi-generations were present- had somewhat higher measures of school readiness than children in parent-only households.So perhaps the most useful takeaway is simpler: when grandparents talk, read, play, tell stories and share family history with children, they are creating opportunities for conversation, curiosity and learning.
3. A close grandparent relationship can help teens navigate difficult years
The teenage years bring a new kind of parenting challenge. Children who once told their parents everything may become more private, while friendships and peer approval become increasingly important. A trusted grandparent can offer another adult relationship during this transition.
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A study of 2,751 adolescents aged 12 to 18 in Israel found that greater emotional closeness to a grandparent was associated with fewer emotional symptoms and hyperactivity, as well as greater prosocial behaviour.
It is not simply about having grandparents- it is about the relationship
There is an important caveat parents should remember before turning this research into another parenting rule. Not every grandparent relationship is positive. Some families have conflict, difficult histories or grandparents who undermine parental boundaries. That distinction matters.The research is not saying that grandparents are a cure for childhood anxiety, a substitute for parents or a guaranteed shield against risky behaviour. It is pointing to something more human: children benefit from having more than one safe, loving adult in their corner. Grandparents can sometimes be that person.The grandfather who walks a child to school. The grandmother who answers a teenager’s late-night call without making them feel foolish. The grandfather who teaches a child how to plant a seed. The grandmother who remembers what the child’s favourite story was when they were five. These moments may look small while they are happening. But childhood is built from small moments.And if there is a grandparent who loves your child, listens to them and makes them feel safe, perhaps one of the simplest things a parent can do is make sure there is enough room in their child’s life for that relationship to grow.
