by Marijane Suttor

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: March 05, 2011

Whether their involvement is reading a story or walking to the park, grandparents play a significant role in a child’s early development. Extended family encourages a sense of confidence and love as well as many other mental, physical, and emotional benefits.

Unconditional love

Grandparents are a good representation to children about unconditional love. This sense of unconditional love helps reinforce self-esteem in children as well as reinforcing the skill of loving someone else in return. It provides children with the sense that someone else is there for them.

 Intellectual stimulation

Another role that early interaction with grandparents provides is intellectual stimulation.  Through reading books and taking the child on other exploratory experiences, Grandparents aid children with brain development and stimulation. By talking to the child, they assist with vocabulary development. Through game play, they help children make predictions and improve other areas of intellect. 

Communication

Communication demonstrates considerable improvement in children that have more stimulation in vocally.  Grandparents provide a reinforcing element for children to develop vocabulary, vocal expression, and listening skills. By vocally giving instructions, reacting to what the child does or says, and using words to represent the child’s environment, grandparents improve the communication skills of the child.

Physical development

Grandparents also can play a vital role in a child's physical development. From holding a baby so it can stand to playing catch with a ball, grandparents reinforce physical skills in children as they interact with them. As the child grows older, playing at a park or catch with a ball for example, help with body strength and coordination.

Sense of confidence

Grandparents and their involvement in children's lives help to establish a sense of self-confidence. They become a steady presence in the lives of the child that encourages them and applauds their successes. Grandparents can also supply another discipline reinforcement that provides another steadying influence in the child’s life.

Manners

By having early exposure to grandparents, children learn to have respect for those that are older than they are and learn to be kind. Grandparents often emphasize saying "please and thank you" as well as "I'm sorry". Whether it is table manners or empathy, grandparents are another set of models for children on how to treat other people.

Grandparents can be an extra set of hands and eyes as well as smiles that can influence the development of a child. They reinforce for children all of the ideals of family and growth that parents want for their children. Involving grandparents early on in the lives of children helps to make them confident and well- rounded individuals.

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