The big picture - changing nature of child-grandparent relationships

American Demographics, March, 1998

(Not So) Grand Times Grandparents are spending more on grandchildren than they did ten years ago. In some cases, they're doing more with them, too. This increased involvement may have its down side as far as the kids are concerned. Grandparents are also less likely than they were to describe their relationship with the children as a special and relaxed one.

Grandparents estimate that they spend a median of $505 a year on their grandchildren, up from $250 in 1988. Even after accounting for inflation, this is a substantial increase. Grandparents are more likely to have sent grandkids a card in the past month (46 percent in 1997, up from 34 percent in 1988). They're also more likely to have eaten at fast-food and "regular" restaurants with grandchildren, and taken them to a movie or show.

Some activities have remained popular. In 1997, 59 percent of grandparents had spoken with a grandchild on the phone in the past month, virtually unchanged from 1988. One in three had at least one grandchild spend the night, the same as in 1988.

Sleeping over at Grandma's might not be as much of a break from parental supervision as it used to be, though. In 1989, 55 percent of grandparents agreed that they had a more relaxed, easy-going manner with grandchildren than the kids' parents did. In 1997, that share was down to 46 percent. Just 37 percent now say their role as a grandparent involves taking kids to special events or doing special things for them, down from 51 percent. Worst of all (from the kids' point of view), the share of grandparents who say they bring grandkids presents and treats their parents wouldn't is down 10 percentage points, to 31 percent.