- Grandparents boost family life: report
- The Age
- 30/09/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
Grandparents are the unsung heroes of Australian families and can boost the learning ability of children, a new federal government-funded report shows.
The four-year study measured children's physical, learning and cognitive development plus social and emotional functioning.
Federal Families, Housing and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin released the report - Growing Up In Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children - in Sydney Tuesday.
She said children aged from three to 19 months had higher learning scores if they were cared for by family and friends - including grandparents - as well as their parents.
Ms Macklin said grandparents provided a strong support base for families by lending a hand with day-to-day family life and influencing their grandchildren's development.
"This new study demonstrates just what a critical role grandparents play in the development of children," Ms Macklin told reporters at a daycare centre in inner-city Redfern.
Spending time with grandchildren, reading to them, cooking together and taking them shopping were simple interactions which made the difference, she said.
"We know from this study how important it is to a child's development to ... spend as much time as possible everyday reading and spending time playing with children," she said.
The growing up in Australia report is the first comprehensive national study of Australian children over time, she said.
It began in 2004 with more than 10,000 families with children agreeing to take part.
The four-year study measured children's physical, learning and cognitive development plus social and emotional functioning.
Federal Families, Housing and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin released the report - Growing Up In Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children - in Sydney Tuesday.
She said children aged from three to 19 months had higher learning scores if they were cared for by family and friends - including grandparents - as well as their parents.
Ms Macklin said grandparents provided a strong support base for families by lending a hand with day-to-day family life and influencing their grandchildren's development.
"This new study demonstrates just what a critical role grandparents play in the development of children," Ms Macklin told reporters at a daycare centre in inner-city Redfern.
Spending time with grandchildren, reading to them, cooking together and taking them shopping were simple interactions which made the difference, she said.
"We know from this study how important it is to a child's development to ... spend as much time as possible everyday reading and spending time playing with children," she said.
The growing up in Australia report is the first comprehensive national study of Australian children over time, she said.
It began in 2004 with more than 10,000 families with children agreeing to take part.
Source: https://news.theage.com.au/national/grandparents-boost-family-life-report-20080930-4qux.html
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