Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics

There has been a rapid increase in the number of grandparents raising grandchildren in recent times. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics revealed that between 1970 up to 2000, the number of grandchildren living with their grandparents has doubled from around 2.2 million to 4.4 million. Research shows that half the number are children aging six years old and above. As a matter of fact, New Mexico ranked sixth among the nations with highest numbers of children raised by their grandparents.

Effects of Changing Trend

Substantial and extensive research has been conducted in the last decades, and these aids in exploring the negative and positive effects of this situation as well as the increasing trend. It was found out that there are several reasons why grandchildren are left under the care of their grandparents. These adults have taken the responsibilities that are supposedly performed by their parents. Based on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics the reasons for this situation includes divorce, death, unemployment, parent’s incarceration, neglect or abuse, mental illness, child abandonment, and many more.

The Roles of Grandparents

Statistics also presents the different roles played by grandparents to their grandchildren and these include custodial, transitional and co-parenting. In transitional role, parents are temporarily away but are expected to return after short period of time. Custodial role is taken by grandparents who assumed responsibility when the original parents became incapable of taking care of their children or passed away. Co-parenting means children are living with grandparents and a parent for reasons of financial hardships and more.

In the past 30 years, significant increase has become evident. In the U.S. alone, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics has been very alarming. Census data presents that about 2.4 million grandparents are now raising 4.5 million grandchildren. Studies also show that despite commitment and love, grandparents still experienced many challenges along the way. These challenges include psychological, physical, social, economic, emotional and inter-generational hardships. Transition is also one of the major challenges faced by grandparents.

Advantages of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Despite raising grandchildren challenges, this duty also comes with numerous advantages. Based on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics, numbers of grandparents revealed their happiness and contentment in raising their grandchildren. Advantages include meaningful involvement in the growth and development of grandchildren, companionship, family extension and strong family ties. Grand children are also benefited in terms of developing good attitudes as they age, learning about the origin and culture of the family as well as customs and traditions, and lastly developing connection and life-long ties with grandparents.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics signify that there is a growing trend for grandparents raising grandchildren these days and as the trend continues statistics is subject to change. Individuals are advised to be aware of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics and learn its implication. Data that has been presented with regards to grandparents raising their grandchildren is a reflection of a real life scenario. This only means that parenting issues are continuously emerging.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Statistics are highly beneficial to researchers, parents, teachers and all other individuals who are interested with reflective statistical data. Individuals can make their own assumptions and viewpoints regarding all the data that has been presented.