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Grandparents on SeniorJournal.com Thursday, January 08, 2009 Click Here for FREE Grandparenting Guide
Grandparent News Children Twice as Safe with Grandparents as Other Caregivers, Including Parents Odds of injury significantly greater among children whose parents never married, father not in home Nov. 3, 2008 – Having grandmother take care of the kids cuts the risk of injury to the children in half – even when compared to care by their own mother – according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Read more... Grandparents’ Gifts Selections May Be Helped by Toy Insider’s Top 20 Toys for Holidays Full guide to be published in November Red Book; on stands October 16 Sept. 25, 2008 – Buying gifts for the grandchildren is usually a challenge. Grandparents are just not as tuned in to the popular toys as they were raising their own children. The Toy Insider, however, has announced it picks for the Hot 20 Toys for the 2008 holiday season, which may be of help. Read more... Remember Amusing Your Kids with Those Coin-Operated Kiddie Rides - Now Available Again You can do it for you grandkids by buying one from restoration company June 6, 2008 - Whatever happened to those coin-operated rides you use to use to put a dime or quarter in decades ago to keep your kids happy? Well, some grandparents are now starting to purchase these icons for their homes and their grandchildren, according to Kiddie Rides USA. Read more...
Five Tips for Grandparents on Buying the Safest Toys This Holiday Season Lead content not only thing grandparents should watch for this holiday season Dec. 3, 2007 - It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but recent toy recalls are putting a damper on the joyful holiday shopping season. As grandparents and parents begin perusing toy stores with lists in hand, many worry about picking goodies that are safe for their little ones. Read more... Grandparents Appear to be Most Willing to Pay More for Safer U.S. Made Toys Gallup finds most Americans reluctant to buy toys from China Oct. 22, 2007 – Grandparents are much more willing to pay extra to buy toys made in the U.S. rather than in China, at least if we assume most grandparents are over age 50. A recent Gallup survey finds Americans, especially those over 50, are thinking twice about buying toys from China after a number of such toys were recalled because of illegal levels of lead, pesticides, antibiotics and chemicals. Read more... Senior Citizens with High Cholesterol May Have Passed It to Grandchildren Who Should be Tested Children should be screened at 15 months for familial hypercholesterolaemia, their parents, too, say British researchers Sept. 14, 2007 – Senior citizens with high levels of bad cholesterol may have passed the life-threatening ailment down to their grandchildren, and researchers say children should have their cholesterol checked as young as 15 months to prevent heart disease later in life. Read more... Grandparents in U.S. Spend $27.5 Billion Annually on Their Grandchildren 72.2% of grandparents wish they could spend more as Grandparents Day approaches Sept. 4, 2007 – Are grandparents obsessed with spending on their grandchildren? A new report says U.S. grandparents already are spending $27.5 billion a year on their grandkids, but almost three-fourths wish they could spend more and some will even borrow money to spend more on these children. Read more... Millions of Grandparents Playing Video Games with Grandkids PopCap finds 95% of grandparents say games offers better bonding Aug. 30, 2007 – Millions of grandparents – in particular grandmothers – play computer games with their grandchildren. In a survey of adults for PopCap Games, 36% said they are grandmothers and 6% said they are grandfathers of children who play “casual games.” And, 95% of the grandparents said the games provided an opportunity to "bond with, or better relate to" their grandchildren. Read more... Once Again There Will Be a Grandparents Day that Few Will Notice You may want to start hinting to the grandkids that it is September 9 By Tucker Sutherland, editor Aug. 27, 2007 – Every year at this time we remind our readers that Grandparents Day is just around the corner – Sunday, September 9, this year. I suspect it will come and go with hardly any notice at all, even by your grandchildren, as it usually does. But, there are more of us every day and sooner or later someone is bound to notice. Read more... Features for Senior Citizens Senior Citizens Out of Step with Children on Sex, Marriage, Parenting Younger generation has different moral values, says Pew Research July 5, 2007 - Americans believe that births to unwed women are a big problem for society, and they take a mixed view at best of cohabitation without marriage. Yet these two nontraditional behaviors have become commonplace among younger adults, who have a different set of moral values from their elders about sex, marriage and parenthood, a new Pew Research Center Survey finds. Read more... Grandparent News Being Dad May Be Tougher These Days, but Working Moms are among Their Biggest Fans By Kim Parker, Senior Researcher, June 13, 2007 - No one can argue with the fact that today's fathers are more "hands on" with their kids than fathers were a generation or two ago. With so many dual income families, fathers often have to share the workload of childrearing and household chores. So how are fathers faring in this brave new world of changing diapers and driving carpools? Read more... Consider Putting Gifts to Grandchildren in a Trust Give up to $12,000 a year that doesn’t have to be reported June 1, 2007 - Gifting assets to your grandchildren isn't just a nice thing to do; it can reduce the size of your estate and the tax that will be due upon your death. Grandparents can give their grandchildren up to $12,000 a year (in 2007) without having to report the gifts. While you can make an outright gift, pay health care and school costs directly, or put the money in a custodial account, putting the money into a trust has some major advantages. Read more... Children Write Essays After Interviewing Grandparents, Seniors on Their Life Legacy Project names the winners for Listen to a Life Essay Contest May 20, 2007 - Who says kids today don't listen to their elders? Thousands of young people across the country entered the Legacy Project's annual Listen to a Life Essay Contest. Their entries ranged from playful to poignant, and inspire others to take the time to listen to a senior's life story. Read more... Grandparents Relate to Adopted Grandchildren the Same as Biological Knowing of this complete acceptance may lead more to opt for adoption April 16, 2007 – If your son or daughter adopts a child, do you relate to that child the same as you would to a biological grandchild? Yes, you would, according to new research conducted at Haifa School of Social Work. Read more... Grandparents Need to Be Aware of the Critical Need to Buckle-Up the Grandkids 70% of spinal cord injuries in children result from motor vehicles, most without seatbelts March 8, 2007 – When today's senior citizens were kids, there was no such thing as a car seatbelt. Everyone piled into the car, or maybe even the back of a pickup, and took off. Although senior drivers have had to adjust to these new fangled safety devices, they need to be aware of the danger to their grandchildren, if not buckled in. About 1,500 spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are sustained by children age 18 and younger every year, approximately 70 percent are a result of a motor vehicle accident. Read more... Guarding Your Wealth for Senior Citizens Grandparents May Avoid Capital Gains to Provide College Funds By Jeffrey D. Voudrie, CFP Feb. 18, 2007 - For the last two decades, financial planners, lawyers and accountants have recommended their clients take advantage of the ‘kiddie-tax’ when selling investments to pay for their child’s college education. The Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act (TIPRA), which was signed into law in early 2006, changed the ‘kiddie-tax’ rules. But you can still avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated assets if you plan ahead. Read on to find out more. Read more... When Grandkids Stay Over You May Want to Record Mother's Alarm Voice Parent voice alarm superior to smoke alarm at awakening children October 3, 2006 – When the grandkids come over to spend the night, you may want to have their mother make a voice recording yelling the first names of the kids and telling them to get out of bed and leave the room. New research says this does a much better job of awakening young children than do traditional smoke alarms. Read more... Advice for Grandparents on Gaining Access to Grandchildren Law changes enable grandparents access over parental objections By Arthur H. Kroll September 15, 2006 - The number of divorces has continued to increase dramatically. While some parents work out joint custody, more commonly one parent is granted primary custody. The sad result is that parents of the non-custodian parent are often cut off from their grandchildren. This is especially true where parents live apart and are separated by long distances. Since many grandparents are now living longer, they have more grandchildren and they are concerned about access. Read more... Senior Citizens Adamant in Saying Sportsmanship has Declined The older we get the better things were when we were kids By Tucker Sutherland, editor August 25, 2006 – Whenever senior citizens are visiting together, or talking to their grandkids, a favorite topic is "how great things were when we were kids." As a senior myself, I certainly feel this way. If you do, too, there is a new survey that shows how the older we get the better we think things used to be. Read more... Maybe this is the Year for Grandparents Day to Get Recognition There are 56 million grandparents in U.S.; only 3 million greeting cards sold for their day! By Tucker Sutherland, editor August 21, 2006 – The national recognition of Grandparents Day has had a hard time becoming a date people remember. It is coming up again – September 10 – and already there is a whole panel of Grandparents Day greeting cards on display, at least at the CVS pharmacy I checked. It has not been a big seller in the past but maybe this is the year it takes hold. Below are some interesting facts about grandparents you may not know. Read more... Travel for Senior Citizens 'Grandtravel' Popular Bonding Experience for Grandparents July 25, 2006 - Seniors who like to "spoil the grandchild" without interference from the parents have discovered that the safest bets are long trips to theme parks, historical sites and even on safaris, a new University of Florida study finds. "Grandtravel," the practice of kids vacationing with grandma and grandpa and no parents, received a thumbs up from nearly 80 percent of grandparents surveyed. Read more... News for Grandparents Grandparents Increasingly Asked to Care for Abandoned Children Stateline.org says 4 million now cared for by family members May 25, 2006, - Nationwide, at least 2.5 million kids are living with grandparents, and Stateline.org reports that states are increasingly turning to grandparents and other family member to care for abandoned children. The states are also passing laws to expand the legal rights of grandparents raising their grandchildren. But, the federal government is cutting back on funds it once provided to facilitate family care of these children. Read more... Grandmothers – Robbing, Killing, Kidnapping, – What's This All About? March 10, 2006 – As Jay Leno would say, "What's this all about?" Grandmothers robbing banks, shooting and strangling granddaughters, killing people with hammers and abusing or kidnapping their grandchildren are some of the stories that have grabbed the headlines in this last month. Read more... Making the Most of Your Time with Grandchildren Download your copy of the grandparents credo
By Susan Newman, Ph.D., author Feb. 27, 2006 - Every grandparent is familiar with the “fly-by” visit: that short, rushed time spent with grandchild that is closer to a pit stop than a bonding experience. The shortness of visits is dictated by the baby’s routine, parents’ hectic schedules, or strained relationships. You may feel your son- or daughter-in-law short-circuits your visits or you have a generalized feeling of being intrusive. Read more... Dallas Program Opens First Grandparent Information Center KinCare Network reaches out to help grandparents raising grandkids Feb. 23, 2006 - Joyce Houston of Dallas, confined to a wheelchair by a stroke and living on a limited income, is caring for two active granddaughters, ages 10 and 16. They are two of almost one-half million minor children in Texas being cared for by grandparents. One in 12 American children is living in a household headed by a grandparent or relative other than a parent, according to the Children's Defense Fund. Read more... Sites We Like Get Your Grandchild a Rare Classic Book from Your Own Childhood By Tucker Sutherland, editor Nov. 28, 2005 – I wish I had kept all the books from my childhood, because I would love to share many of them with my grandkids. The good news is there is a growing Website where you can search the world to find a copy of that book you treasured as a child and buy it online for your grandchild. You may even find a classic signed by the author. It could be the perfect gift for Christmas. Read more... Thanksgiving Facts to Share with Your Grandchildren Nov. 23, 2005 - Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays for many families - it's often a day to gather at grandmother's for family sharing, without the stress and hyper-activity of other holidays, like Christmas. Below is a story about the first Thanksgiving and some interesting facts by the U.S. Census Bureau that may provide you some interesting things to share with your grandchildren. Read more... Grandparents Find Holiday Shopping Help in Early Toy Trends Toys "R" Us says five gift themes have already emerged this season Nov. 8, 2005 – Shopping for holiday gifts for grandchildren is often a challenge for grandparents, who do not keep up with the latest toys as well as they did when they had children in the house. Toys “R” Us has identified five toy categories they say have already caught shoppers’ attention for the 2005 holiday season. Read more... Grandparents Rally in Washington Celebrating role in protecting children who need parenting Sept. 9, 2005 - On September 14, hundreds of grandparents, relatives and children from across the nation will be joined by members of Congress, advocates, and others in rally on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol celebrating the “essential role” that these caregivers play in providing safe, permanent families for vulnerable children, and the unique challenges they face in fulfilling this duty, according to a news release from the rally sponsors. Read more... Guest Opinion Grandparents Can Make the Difference in Child Protection Crisis A grandmother sounds a rally cry for grandparents to take action By Christine Korn There are a growing number of children finding themselves separated from their parents for one reason or another. The Child Protection Services agencies have determined that permanency in a child’s life is vital, and has expedited the process of attempting to rehabilitate a parent who has neglected or harmed his/her child. The current rule is that if the child has spent 15 of the past 22 months in an out of home placement, such as foster care, the states can petition the court to terminate the parental rights and seek adoptive homes for the children. At this point in the process, grandparents may step in and petition the court for custody. Read more... Facts for Grandparents Day 2005 Sept. 6, 2005 - This Sunday, September 11, is Grandparents Day. It is not a holiday that has ever garnered much attention, even though it has been around from more than 25 years. In recognition of grandparents, however, the U.S. Census Bureau has gathered some rather interesting statistics about America's grandparents, including news that there will be about three million grandparents day cards given out. Read more... Websites We Like Teenager Publishes Online Newsletter to Bridge Gap with Grandparents July 17, 2005 – If you are a grandparent, or even a parent, you have to love this story. It is about Lauren Teegarden, a high school senior in Portland, Oregon, who has started her own Website. That may not be too unusual but this teenager-created site is called "The Grandparent Connection" – not a topic many teenagers get fired up about. Read more... Grandparent at Home Buffers Drawbacks of Single-Parenthood ITHACA, N.Y., May 2, 2005 - Many studies have shown that children living in a single-parent family tend to do worse academically and receive less intellectual stimulation than children living with married parents. Having a grandparent in the home, however, appears to buffer some of these negative effects, according to a new Cornell University study. Read more... New York Study Grandparents Face Obstacles in Raising Grandchildren Nov. 16, 2004 – Grandparents are increasingly raising grandchildren and a new study in New York shows they face a multitude of barriers related to schooling, health, legal affairs, and public assistance as they attempt to raise the children in their care. This follows on the heels of another reports saying grandmothers who are caregivers to grandchildren are more prone to stress and depressive symptoms. More... 11/16/04* Grandmothers Caring for Grandchildren Prone to Stress, Depression Nov. 12, 2004 - Grandmothers who are caregivers to grandchildren are more prone to stress and depressive symptoms than non-caregivers according to the latest research by Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. Carol Musil, associate professor of nursing at Case, is leading an ongoing study to examine the effects of caregiving on the health of 450 Ohio grandmothers. More... 11/12/04* Grandmother Convinced Girls To Falsely Accuse Man of Sexual Abuse to Protect Their Cousin Stepfather of one served 20 years before being freed Friday Nov. 6, 2004 – Two women say their grandmother made them falsely claim sexual abuse against the stepfather of one, rather than their cousin who was under the care of the grandmother, who is now dead. They recanted their charges on Friday and Sylvester Smith, 53, went free after 20 years in prison. The story is reported in the Raleigh, NC, News Observer. More... 11/06/04* Jakers! Add Spice to National Grandparents Day Sept. 10, 2004 – Don’t get upset if you don’t get a card or a hug from your grandchildren this Sunday, Sept. 12. Grandparents Day has been a national observance since 1979 but few seem to notice. This year, however, the Jakers! PBS children's show is adding some spice. Follow this link to the story and more about Grandparents Day. More... 9/10/04* Shana Banana's "The Grandparents Song" Nominated For Best Children's Song Sept. 10, 2004 - Award-winning national children's entertainer, singer & songwriter, Shana Banana Smith has not one, but two songs nominated in the "Best Children's Song" category for the Just Plain Folks Music Awards, "The Grandparents Song" and "The Popcorn Song." More... 9/10/04* Great Idea! Visiting Nurses Celebrate Grandparents Day Educating Seniors on Medicare Sept. 11, 2004 - On Sunday, September 12, Visiting Nurses throughout the country will honor national Grandparents Day by hosting informative meetings about the new Medicare-Approved Prescription Drug Discount Card Program for seniors, as well as their family members and caretakers. More... 9/11/04* Grandparents as Caregivers Six Million Grandparents Live with Grandchildren Sept. 4, 2004 - Today, grandparents are increasingly not just relatives to be visited on holidays and weekends, but part of the year-round household for many children. Nearly 6 million grandparents live with their grandchildren, and 4-out-of-10 are responsible for the youngsters basic care. More... 9/10/04* Did Grandma Supply the Competitive Edge to Enhance Evolution? July 6, 2004 – New research says a dramatic increase in human longevity about 30,000 B.C. provided the older, wiser adults – grandparents – that propelled man along the evolutionary path. More... 7/06/04* Why Do Grandparents Prefer Certain Grandchildren? Study explores relationships with grandchildren June10, 2004 - Grandparents systemically prefer some grandchildren to others because of doubts about genetic lineage new research confirms. More... 6/10/04* Facts on U.S. Grandparents in 2003 Dec. 3, 2003 - There are 2.4 million grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs (i.e., food, shelter, clothing) of one or more of the grandchildren they live with. These grandparents represent 43 percent of all grandparents who live with their grandchildren. More facts of grandparents from U.S. Census Bureau - Click Here 12/03/03*
Trouble in Toyland Can Help Protect Your Grandchildren Nov. 25, 2003 - Hazardous toys can still be found on store shelves across the country despite passage of the 1994 Child Safety Protection Act, according to a survey released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. More than 212,000 people, including 72,000 children younger than five, sought treatment in hospital emergency rooms in 2002 for toy-related injuries. Thirteen children died from toy related injuries in 2002. More of story and links to more information. 11/25/03* Retired Boston Nurse Wins National “Give Thanks For Grandparents” ContestNational Survey Also Reveals Barbara Bush Is America’s Favorite Famous Grandparent Nov. 26, 02 - After tallying thousands of votes submitted via the Internet, retired nurse Nicoletta Kalavantis, of Boston, Mass., has won the national “Give Thanks For Grandparents” contest, according to CEIVA Logic and iGrandparents.com, sponsors of the contest. Click 11/26/2* White and Black Grandmothers Have Different Responses to Raising Grandchildren Washington, DC -- Caregiving is a bigger burden on White grandmothers than it is on Black grandmothers, according a recent study published in the September 2002 issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. Click 9/12/2* Hey, Grandparent, Did You Get Recognized Sunday?By Tucker Sutherland, editor Sept. 9, 02 - Sunday was National Grandparents Day but I did not hear from a one of my ten grandchildren. How 'bout you? I just don't think this day is ever going to make it in America. The Sunday after Labor Day was declared National Grandparents Day by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 - so it has not caught on in almost 25 years of trying. The date was chosen to signify the "autumn years" of life, which didn't help. Well, better luck next year! Click to the Official Website 8/27/2** Send Your Grandkids to College and Avoid the Tax Man Go to Money Matters for a link to the story - Click Grandparents Lose Another Visitation Case; This One - Actually Two - in Illinois Supreme Court April 19, 2002 - The ruling yesterday by the Illinois Supreme Court overturned two trial court decisions in which grandparents earlier successfully sued single, surviving parents for more visits with a grandchild. Some say the Illinois "grandparents visitation" law was totally struck down, while others say only parts of it were eliminated. Clearly, the court ruled that parents have full authority to raise their children unless their health or safety is in danger. Click to story, link to opinion 4/19/2*
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AARP Survey: Boomers Soon to be Grandparents, Sandwiched Between Parents, Children The Boomer population has redefined yet another aspect of American society - the "sandwich generation," according to a survey released today by AARP. click to story 7/11/01
We
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Often May 7, 2001 -- Most of us think our Moms are beautiful but few of us tell her, according to a new study of American concepts of beauty by Clairol. click to story 5/9/01
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Grandchildren March 22, 2001 - An estimated 7 percent of America's grandparents provide extensive caregiving to their grandchildren, including more than 20 percent of those caring for the pre-school aged children of working parents, according to a study published in the April 2001 issue of The Gerontologist. Click for story* 3/22/01 Mothers and Daughters Have Ties That Overcome Conflict Research shows that, despite conflicts and complicated emotions, the tie between mothers and daughters is so positive, so strong and so enduring that 80 to 90 percent of women at mid-life say that they have a good relationship with their mother even though they wish that relationship were better. (Click for Story 1-22-01*) > Grandparents Not Saving to Help Educate Grandkids 12/14/00* Many grandparents have the means and the desire to help pay for their grandchildren's college education, but few are actively saving for that need. > Tips for Staying Stress-Free for Holidays - Dr. Brothers 12/06/00* Dr. Joyce Brothers's tips are designed to get you through the holidays with comfort and ease and help you remember what the holidays are all about-spending time with loved ones. > Website Rates Best Sites for Finding Toys for Grandkids 11/27/00* For the second year in a row eToys.com has named the #1 full service online toy site, according to eMarketer. > Hot: 2000 Holiday Toys for Grandkids 10/26/00* This year, Poo-Chi led a diverse field of challenging toys and games that scored high with kids. > Grandparents: The Disposable Family 10/10/00 What's really shocking about the story is how common it has become for parents to deny grandparents contact with grandchildren. > Too Old to be a Mom? 10/5/00 More and more women in their 40s and beyond are giving birth and facing a host of challenges few mothers are prepared for. > Women's Museum Opens 9/29/00 in Dallas 9/29/00* (Story & Video) The museum celebrates the lives and accomplishments of American women. In recognizing the diverse and demanding roles women have played over the last 100 years, the Museum highlights mind, body and spirit of the women who have changed the future. > Vacationing with Grandkids Becoming Popular 9/21/00 Growing numbers of grandparents are inviting their grandkids on trips, leaving their grown children behind. > Tot's Death Stirs Debate Over Elderly Drivers 9/1/00 A 91-year-old driver who backed into a bank lobby and killed a 1-year-old boy said Wednesday that he wont drive again but disagreed with those who say some people are simply too old to drive. > Grandparent Day Cards Are Changing 8/31/00 As America observes Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 10, the types of greeting cards being offered by American Greetings are markedly different from those of just 10 years ago reflecting changing lifestyles and roles of today's grandparents. > Online Network Announced For Grandparenting 7/05/00* Knowledge Kids Network (KKN) announced its partnership with a leading national and international authority on grandparenting, Dr. Arthur Kornhaber, president and founder of The Foundation for Grandparenting. > Rights of Grandparents Stripped by Supreme Court 6/5/00 The Supreme Court curbed states' power to help grandparents visit their grandchildren against parents' wishes, a decision that could touch every American family. (See Our Poll, Background, etc. on this issue) > People Marrying, Divorcing Later in Life 5/31/00 They're also divorcing in their 80s and 90s, seemingly throwing caution to the wind. > Borrowed Grandmothers Working Well 5/30/00 She is one of about two dozen volunteers who serve as surrogate grandmothers at Providence Child Center to children whose brains have been damaged in near drownings, fires or other accidents. Others have been blinded and muted by genetic defects. > Study Says Grandpa Goes, When Grandkids Move In 2/00*
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