Grandparents are known for their giving nature, to the point of spoiling their grandchildren. Those spoils are often financial or material — but certainly not exclusively.
A grandparent’s experience and knowledge are precious, and they often draw on them to instill important values in the younger generations.
The Senior List — a website for older adults and their caregivers — recently surveyed 1,209 Americans at least 55 years of age. Respondents said the following values are what they put the most emphasis on teaching their grandchildren.
1. Respect for others
Survey respondents who said they are actively trying to pass this value on to their grandchildren: 88%
According to a 2023 study from King’s College London, 71% of Americans believe children should be taught tolerance and respect for other people. Attentive listening, empathy and valuing unique perspectives are all basic signs of respect. Modeling these actions to younger generations furthers the sharing of kindness and consideration.
2. Politeness/manners
Survey respondents who said they are actively trying to pass this value on to their grandchildren: 85%
The King’s College London study found that just 52% of Americans value teaching children good manners. To a stronger majority of The Senior List’s participating grandparents, though, “Please” and “Thank you” certainly aren’t out of style yet.
3. Independence/self-sufficiency
Survey respondents who said they are actively trying to pass this value on to their grandchildren: 70%
Grandparents put more emphasis on this value than Americans at large. Fifty-six percent of Americans say independence is important to teach children, according to the King’s College London report, which compares with 70% of grandparents who told the Senior List they are working to instill that in their grandchildren.
4. Work ethic
Survey respondents who said they are actively trying to pass this value on to their grandchildren: 62%
Grandparents are marginally less likely to say they push a strong work ethic compared with the general American public, 68% of whom said children should be taught the value of hard work, King’s College London found. Supporting their views on hard work, 59% of Americans said teaching feelings of responsibility is important, though that specific concept was not singled out by The Senior List’s survey of grandparents.
Other lessons grandparents are passing on
Those are the top four, but grandparents haven’t forgotten about the following values and lessons either:
- Cultural or family traditions (61%)
- Healthy living habits (61%)
- Money saving and financial advice (50%)
- Relationship advice (49%)
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