Over Sixty Spring 2022 Digital

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Talk to your employer One survey of 250 grandparents found most had employers who were flexible when it came to the need to provide childcare. “Companies are really starting to under- stand that if they want to be a desirable work- place for mature workers, they need to sup- port grandparents’ caring responsibilities,” says Associate Professor Hamilton. “It’s a good idea to talk to your employer about your childcare responsibilities and how you might adjust your working hours to make it easier to do the work-care juggle.” Consider what’s best for the child Research shows there are significant benefits for children in developing a close relation- ship with their grandparents – benefits that extend through the teenage years. However, grandparents usually aren’t trained teachers. Children who only receive care fromtheir family andnever attend formal childcare settings can be at a disadvantage for some of their learning and social outcomes. With all children in Australia entitled to receive preschooling for a year before school, grandparents will still play an important role in supporting more informal childcare. “Especially in that younger age group, it’s really about working out a childcare package that meets your family’s preference and... the child’s emotional, social and learning needs,” says Associate Professor Hamilton. Don’t forget your own needs University of Sydney research shows one in three grandparents have changed the timing of their retirement or travel due to childcare duties. “I’ve heard lots of stories of grandpar- ents providing two days a week for one adult child and then another adult child has a baby and all of a sudden they’re providing care for three, four or five children over different days,” says Associate Professor Hamilton. She says while there is a lot of guilt associated with grandparents and childcare, it’s important to still find time for yourself. Grandparents who provide childcare can experience many benefits, but it’s important to enter into it with eyes open Photo: Getty Images NEWS HELEN SIGNY NEWS C ost-of-living increases, soaring childcare rates and both parents working long hours mean Australian grandparents are in- creasingly providing regular childcare. Two in five grandparents with a grandchild under 13 now provide some sort of childcare, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).The recent Families in Austral- ia Survey of 2,383 grandparents found more than a third of grandparents providing child- care do so for more than 20 hours per week. At the same time, more grandparents are still at work themselves, or need to look after their own elderly parents. While research shows there are many pos- itives for both grandparents and grandchil- dren, grandparents who spend many hours a week providing childcare are more likely to say it’s tiring or it interferes with their other activities or responsibilities. “The research shows there are real bene- fits for grandparents in terms of their phys- ical health, social and emotional wellbeing, sense of connectedness and life satisfaction, as well as their cognitive health,” says Asso- ciate Professor Myra Hamilton, Principal Research Fellow at the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research at the Univer- sity of Sydney. “But that’sprovided it’snot toomuch.When grandparents feel they don’t have a choice or they are obligated, it’s more likely to have a negative impact on their work or health.” Associate ProfessorHamilton shares tips on how tomake the arrangement work for all. Be firm about the hours One study shows providing more than 13 hours of childcare a week is a tipping point beyond which grandparents are more likely to say their caring duties are having a negative impact on their work or health, says Associate Professor Hamilton. “It’s the irregular stuff as well. Often grand- parents will say they will pick up the kids three afternoons a week but one gets sick or something happens, and they end up provid- ing a lot of ad hoc care. “It’s a good idea to set firm boundaries around what they are willing to do.” Discuss finances The costs of providing childcare can be high, for example buying equipment like car seats. It can also affect income: research shows 70% of grandparents who provide regular childcare have changed their working hours and 50% have reduced their hours to accom- modate their childcare responsibilities.