What Are They Actually Like?

Born between 1946 and 1964, child boomers make up a big portion of grandparents at the moment. That is as a result of their youngsters, who fall largely within the millennial era, could be within the midst of their child-bearing years.

Each era is hallmarked by frequent traits, which means that boomers are bringing their very own beliefs and values to the grandparenting sport. This impacts how they work together with their grandkids on a generational scale.

Preserve studying to be taught some frequent traits of child boomers, what they could be like as grandparents, and suggestions for fostering a wholesome grandparent-grandchild relationship.

Frequent Child Boomer Traits

Whereas it is true that sure generational traits are extra stereotypical than others, specialists agree that boomers (and each different era) share frequent beliefs, attitudes, and values. Listed below are some frequent child boomer traits—although take into accout they won’t apply to each boomer in your life.

• Profession-oriented: They’re largely targeted on work and profession. Private development in these fields is necessary.
• Unbiased and resourceful: Child boomers prioritize private gratification and independence. Individuals may describe them as resourceful, goal-oriented, disciplined, formidable, and aggressive.
• Tech savvy: Though they could desire in-person interactions, they’re prepared to be taught the tech of the instances. You are prone to discover them on social media.
• Optimistic: Boomers usually have an optimistic view of issues (“look on the intense aspect!”) as a result of they’ve benefitted from respectable wages, homeownership, and social modifications.
• Resistant to alter: Some boomers might be delicate to suggestions and judgmental of those that see issues in a different way, which explains the “OK, boomer” memes you may’ve seen on-line.
• Household-focused: Child boomers are sometimes extra targeted on household than earlier generations.

How Do Child Boomers Act as Grandparents? 

Each child boomer can have a completely different strategy to grandparenting, however specialists discover a couple of overarching traits, which we outlined right here.

They could spoil grandchildren with presents and toys.

Many grandparents give attention to making certain bodily wants are met—and this sentiment is smart if you consider their background. When boomers had been rising up, society was preoccupied with meals safety and having a roof over their heads, says Amy DeBlase, LMHC, LPC, PMH-C, scientific director and supervisor at Let’s Discuss Psychological Wellness. Because of this, boomers “place completely different values on fundamental wants versus emotional ones, in contrast with their youngsters,” she says. 

If it looks like boomer grandparents are fast to spoil their grandchildren with toys and different tangible issues (as a substitute of delving deep into emotional sentimentality), it’s not as a result of they don’t care. It’s as a result of they’re attempting to offer them what was lacking from their very own childhood. 

Some boomer grandparents assist with youngster care.

Some boomers play a big position in caring for his or her grandchildren. A 2023 Harris Ballot discovered that 42% of working dad and mom depend on grandparents—and particularly grandmothers—for youngster care. When the necessity for youngster care comes up unexpectedly, 41% say that grandma is “one particular person tagged in for unpaid care.”

Equally, a survey from Generations United and MetLife discovered that about 13% of surveyed grandparents frequently take care of a grandchild. Of that share, about one-third babysit at the very least 5 days per week. Many components may contribute to the development of grandparents as youngster care suppliers: astronomical daycare prices, a bigger share of moms within the workforce, and extra.

Boomers may use expertise to work together with grandkids.

In the course of the pandemic, everybody adjusted how they communicated with others. This included boomers, who embraced social media and video calls to remain related with grandchildren—and who doubtless nonetheless depend on these high-tech strategies at the moment.

Expertise particularly turns out to be useful as a result of, now greater than ever earlier than, grandparents may dwell distant from their grandkids. Based on an AARP report from 2019, greater than half of grandparents have “at the very least one grandchild” residing greater than 200 miles away, and one-third dwell at the very least 50 miles from their closest grandchild.

That mentioned, as a result of boomers nonetheless worth in-person interplay, they will most likely nonetheless get pleasure from day journeys to the museum or the flicks with the kiddos.

Boomer grandparents have fun accomplishments.

Many boomers are work-centric and goal-orientated, in order that they doubtless prioritize schoolwork and schooling, they usually’re proud when grandkids obtain expectations. Grandparents may present up for an awards ceremony in school, however they could be fast to evaluate dad and mom when grandkids face challenges. Then again, dad and mom who got here after the boomer era usually tend to acknowledge that failure can educate classes too, like constructing resilience.