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Grandparenting

Grandparenting is good for the brain

(23 Posts)
Farmor15 Mon 26-Jan-26 21:51:25

Did anyone else see this recent research? Basically the researchers found that those who cared for grandchildren performed better in cognitive tests. share.google/vMzmdQNLVk7GwMRPh

Abitbarmy Mon 26-Jan-26 22:08:32

It certainly exercises my memory playing pairs with my 7yr old DGD!

crazyH Mon 26-Jan-26 22:18:47

That’s good to know - started looking after GC from 2002 and still doing so, occasionally (youngest GC is 7years old )

Deedaa Mon 26-Jan-26 22:32:12

Remembering the years I spent looking after my grandsons I can quite believe it.

Greenfinch Mon 26-Jan-26 22:43:21

Two of our grandchildren lived with us of and on until they were sixteen. I have definitely gone downhill since they left.😒

Sarnia Mon 26-Jan-26 22:49:22

I can see that. Times have changed dramatically since the 50's/60's when I was at school. Not always for the better but it's good to keep up to date.

Sadgrandma Mon 26-Jan-26 23:18:00

Our DGD keeps us young. She certainly keeps us on our toes. Long may it last,

Mackir Tue 27-Jan-26 05:02:27

The research seemed to produce observations but no answers.

nanna8 Tue 27-Jan-26 05:19:35

Mine have all grown up now except one who is 7 but I don’t see that one very often. I have several greats but they see my daughters more often. I saw 3 of them yesterday, they are lovely . The eldest is 14, six foot tall and proud of his height ( tallest in his family, bigger than his Dad !) Happy kids, so lucky compared with how it was for me growing up.

Erica23 Tue 27-Jan-26 07:26:41

Me too crazyH First DGC 2002, last DCG is seven. Hope it’s true, we’ll see.

MartavTaurus Tue 27-Jan-26 07:41:19

It's even better for the soul. The laughs are endless!
I'm just starting out on a new batch. The older ones leave me behind in the brain department.

lixy Tue 27-Jan-26 08:16:05

My OH is fearful that our AC will start charging us for our ‘therapy’ sessions when the grandchildren come for their regular sleepovers.!

MartavTaurus Tue 27-Jan-26 08:16:44

lixy

My OH is fearful that our AC will start charging us for our ‘therapy’ sessions when the grandchildren come for their regular sleepovers.!

Lovely! 😂

Wyllow3 Tue 27-Jan-26 08:28:25

I agree with the point, and would add, its not just mixing with grandchildren, tho thats lovely, but mixing with young people or the young at heart, people who have kept their curiosity alive, keep up to date with ideas as in culture/politics.

My first Ex - we get on v well so in communication - is now nearly 74 and studying at the OU "Classical Studies"BA! (after having done computing to that level too)

GrannyGravy13 Tue 27-Jan-26 08:31:11

The teens are engaging and good to go out to lunch or dinner with when I teen sit

The younger ones definitely keep us active…

We have two who have weekly sleepovers (separately)

Homework yr6 and yr2 (bright should be in yr1 by age) definitely exercise the brain cells. The laughter is priceless, keeping up with younger culture eye opening.

By far the best is being woken up by a little person getting in beside me for a snuggle cuddle 🩷🩷🩷

V3ra Tue 27-Jan-26 09:47:58

Abitbarmy

It certainly exercises my memory playing pairs with my 7yr old DGD!

My four year old grandson will quietly nudge my arm and tap the card I need to turn over.
He's always right!

(Sometimes I feel like saying, "Let me do it myself!") 😂

Stillness Wed 28-Jan-26 14:05:32

Performed better than whom? Because I’m sure if your time is filled with learning new things, being active and having a full live, there would be equal cognitive benefits. And haha, adult children shouldn’t use this as a reason to feel ok about taking advantage of their parents for childcare!

Jojo1950 Wed 28-Jan-26 14:37:27

When we see each other.
My DGD and I do Wordle together and is very very good.
We also do quizzes, and many more puzzles. We have read together since she was a baby. She has an excellent vocabulary.
Its wonderful we both love it!

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 28-Jan-26 14:45:16

... but can be tough on the knees..

Mamie Wed 28-Jan-26 15:02:28

My most challenging time was supporting DG2 when she was applying to medical school. While she was focussed on getting A* in Chemistry, Biology and Maths plus preparations for the UCAT test, I offered to check the different requirements for different universities. The weighting for GCSE, A levels, UCAT score, interview and application letter was different for all of them. Pleased to say she had offers from 3 of 4 and got into her first choice.
It certainly made my brain ache.

KnittyNannie Wed 28-Jan-26 15:30:44

I hope it’s true! We have been legal guardians for two of our grandsons since 2005. The 24 year old still lives with us - and works from home for most of the time. He did go away to uni, but during that time spent lockdown here. The 20 year old is away at uni doing a degree in medicine, but comes home to us each holiday. We have also cared for some of our other grandchildren. It should have worked wonders!

4allweknow Thu 29-Jan-26 08:51:46

How old were the grandparents in the tests?

4allweknow Thu 29-Jan-26 08:55:05

Sorry, the article just loaded. See the age group isn't exactly old, still working age.