The pandemic hurts. Here’s what helps.
Advice for grandparents, from grandparents.
How childhood and elderhood make us human
A growing body of research suggests that these life stages—which last far longer in humans than in any other animal—are responsible for the remarkable success of our species.
In a first, most American 20-somethings now live with their parents
The share of young adults living at home has been rising for decades in the United States. But in the six months since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the increase has been especially steep.
Step-grandparents, make yourselves known!
Little is known about step-grandparents, even thought they’re increasingly common. If you’re a step-grandparent, what’s it like?
Bonobo moms play matchmaker for their sons
An adult male bonobo who lives with his mother is three times more likely to become a father than one who’s gone his own way.
Are you a typical American grandparent?
There’s a new study out about grandparents. Some of its findings surprised me.
Why grandparents outnumber grandchildren
There used to be many more children than elders; now, for the first time in history, the old outnumber the young.
What do Okinawans know that we don’t?
The five places in the world where people live the longest are also places where elders spend a good deal of their time tending vegetable gardens.
Is mental illness the biggest problem facing teens?
Seventy percent of American teens see anxiety and depression as “major problems” among their peers, according to a new study.
Of baby birds and their grandparents
So far, grandparent care has been observed in only one bird species: the Seychelles Warbler, which inhabits five small islands in the Indian Ocean.
More myths about grandparents that it’s time to trash
Many stereotypes about grandparents are wrong.
Do maternal grandparents have it better?
Kids are often closer to their maternal grandparents than to their paternal ones, research suggests, perhaps because mothers tend to maintain closer ties with their own parents than fathers do.
Does modern parenting ruin kids?
Because of how their parents are raising them, kids will grow up to be more entitled, less disciplined, and less independent than their elders, an overwhelming majority of Australian grandparents believes.
How many years can you expect to spend as a healthy grandparent?
Americans and Canadians are spending more years as grandparents than they did a generation ago, and they’re spending them in better health—even though they’re older when their grandkids are born.
Do grandparents wake up early to keep their families safe?
New research suggests that our ancestors stayed safe at night thanks to the divergent sleep habits of the young and the old.
“What the elders see while sitting, the young ones standing on their toes won’t see”
Check out these proverbs to see how grandparenthood varies across cultures.
If you’re worried about your grandkid, speak up, scientists say
Grandparents often suspect autism before parents do, but they sometimes hesitate to voice their concern, a new study reveals.
Does how often you see your grandkids affect how long you live?
In the first study of its kind, a team of scientists has found that grandparents who provide regular care for their grandchildren have an edge on survival over those who don’t.
Where do the happiest grandparents live?
Older adults in the United States enjoy greater well-being than younger ones, but they’re faring far better in some states than in others, according to a recent survey.