"My friend has a grandfather who plays with him and shows him a lot of stuff. My grandfather lives far away. How can I get a grandfather? I want one."
Did you know that 95% of all people over age 65 who have adult children also have grandchildren? That's about 60 million Americans! Did you know that the average age at which Americans become grandparents is 45 and that a majority of men expect to become grandfathers at age 52? That means men today can expect to spend the majority of their adult years in this critical role.
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| Former President George W. Bush takes his granddaughter, Mila. trick-or-treating. |
Researchers have found that grandchildren who have a close relationship with a grandfather are likely to perform well in school, display positive emotional adjustment, have higher self-esteem, and a greater ability to develop and maintain friendships. Grandfathers who report having close relationships with grandchildren describe the significant joy they experience as a result of the unconditional love they feel for their grandchildren. Spending time with their grandchildren and displaying photographs of them provides reminders of their connection to future generations.
(Adapted from: Ohio State University Extension: Senior Series)
