“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus
“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus
“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus
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Chapter 9<br />
The policy debate - a response<br />
from Gr<strong>and</strong>parents <strong>Plus</strong><br />
This research clearly demonstrates the significant contribution that<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>parents are making to family life <strong>and</strong> the positive impact they have<br />
on the welfare of older children. We believe that this contribution should<br />
be recognised <strong>and</strong> supported. This report also demonstrates that this is<br />
particularly important for those families who are experiencing difficulties<br />
or where parents separate or divorce.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong>parents are:<br />
filling the parenting gap by playing an increasing role in supporting family<br />
life in a variety of ways, particularly in times of crisis <strong>and</strong> playing a growing role<br />
in children’s education. We need service providers to adopt a whole family<br />
approach when designing <strong>and</strong> delivering services. We also need more family<br />
counselling <strong>and</strong> mediation services involving gr<strong>and</strong>parents <strong>and</strong> also targeting<br />
them with their services. We also need to ensure that schools recognise<br />
growing gr<strong>and</strong>parental involvement <strong>and</strong> encourage them to play a full part<br />
in school life.<br />
major influencers on parent <strong>and</strong> child behaviour. Campaigns aimed at changing<br />
family behaviour should recognise this <strong>and</strong> have a strategy for engaging<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>parents.<br />
making young people more ‘prosocial’ where they are closely involved. This is<br />
significant because employers in particular are concerned that young people lack<br />
the ‘soft skills’ needed in life. We need more opportunities for intergenerational<br />
contact <strong>and</strong> a greater respect for the contribution of older generations.<br />
called upon by their gr<strong>and</strong>children for emotional <strong>and</strong> other support at times of<br />
family crisis. Gr<strong>and</strong>parents’ involvement is linked to reduced adjustment difficulties<br />
for children in single parent families where levels of gr<strong>and</strong>parental involvement are<br />
high. We need to support that involvement, making it easier to combine work<br />
<strong>and</strong> care by extending flexible working <strong>and</strong> by introducing a two week period<br />
of 'granny leave' which can be taken in the first year after a baby's birth. We<br />
know that this is a particularly stressful time for parental relationships.<br />
My <strong>second</strong> <strong>mum</strong> <strong>and</strong> dad / 33
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