By Janine M. Schall, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is special. Grandparents often play an influential role in the lives of their grandchildren, providing support to parents, childcare, positive examples and unconditional love which helps children feel safe and secure.

Grandparents often share their knowledge, wisdom and family traditions with their grandchildren. They help reinforce family and cultural beliefs, norms and values. These experiences strengthen a grandchild’s sense of self-worth and teach culture, tradition and history while creating opportunities to explore identity in the context of family.

Some grandparents are an integral part of the child’s multigenerational household. Other grandparents may live nearby and regularly see their grandchildren. Still others may be the primary guardian when a child’s parents are unable to take care of them. And increased migration means that many grandparents live far from their grandchildren but maintain relationships through avenues of communication such as email and video chats. For far away grandparents, in person visits are also important ways to stay connected, though they may not be able to happen often. Whatever the family configuration, a grandparent’s love makes a real, lasting impact on a child’s future since children learn and grow in large part through close, caring relationships with the adults in their lives.

Of course, many children will experience their grandparents growing older and perhaps needing extra help due to illness. And everyone will eventually experience the death of a grandparent. Through sadness and grief, the loving memories and wisdom passed down across the generations will continue to sustain grandchildren as they move through life.

Grandparents can be teachers, caregivers, playmates, role models, historians, confidants and mentors. In this WOW Dozen I share twelve picturebooks that feature a relationship between a grandparent and grandchild.

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