How can children benefit from having grandparents as their full time carer?
It is estimated that around 100,000 grandparents in the UK are bringing up their grandchildren as full time carers. This may be informally or as approved foster carers. There are many reasons for grandparents to take on the parental role such as drug or alcohol abuse, serious illness or death of a parents and domestic violence or imprisonment.
Having grandparents step in and care for their grandchildren can have a range of advantages. Grandparents can offer continuity of care, allowing the child to stay with familiar people rather than foster care or adoption. Placement with the grandparents often keeps the child’s routine stable and is much less unsettling for the child. Evidence has shown that being cared for by family members has a positive impact on the child’s educational outcomes, health and well-being, emotional stability and behaviour.
Grandparents often have a great deal of knowledge and experience when it comes to bringing up children. They have had their own children and will be able to reflect on that time to support their grandchildren. This can enable grandparents to become a role model to the children and positively influence their development.
However many of the children who are cared for by grandparents, can face struggles with home life or may have additional needs or disabilities. This can put an added pressure on grandparents to care for young children and support their development. Studies show that 44% of children who are cared for by grandparents have not received any additional support from children’s services despite possibly losing a parent or suffering abuse in the past.
Grandparents who are full time carers for their grandchildren may also find that their health and finances will be impacted. Grandparents Plus have found that three quarters of grandparents are aged between 45 and 64 years old; these may have health conditions such as stress related illness. Financial issues may also arise with many grandparents not receiving the same benefits as adoptive parents, and with a possible lack of advice many may also miss out on benefits or other support.
Grandparents can provide a great deal of benefits as a child’s carer; however they should be supported as much as parents in order to fulfil their role.