Can Babysitting Your Grandkids Make you Smarter

If you've ever cared for young children you know how challenging and rewarding it can be. But can it actually sharpen your cognitive ability?

Grandparents who are actively involved with their grandkids are a wonderful source of support, guidance, and relief, both to their grandkids and their own adult children who are able to enjoy a much-needed break now and then, knowing their little ones are in good hands.

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As it turns out, there is an unexpected benefit for grandparents. A recent study published by the North American Menopause Society has shown that grandparents who babysit their grandchildren once a week scored higher on cognitive tests compared to those who didn’t.

But don't overdo it-lol! The same study also found that grandparents who babysat five times or more per week actually scored a bit lower on cognitive tests. Probably because they're exhausted! Seriously though, grandparents who are babysitting that frequently are likely, in my opinion, to be dealing with larger family problems which is necessitating the frequency, although the study didn't elaborate on that.

It's well established by earlier studies that regular social contact plays a vital role in maintaining healthy cognitive function and preventing dementia, but this is the first study to specifically look at the role of being a grandparent.

So give Grandma and Grandpa a call and ask them to watch the kids while you catch that movie you've been wanting to see…..or have that nap you've been longing to take! Grandparents, if your kids aren't calling you, maybe they're afraid of imposing, so give them a call and offer to watch the grandchildren.

What if you don't have grandkids of your own? Ask around in your neighborhood, there may be some parents there with kids who don't have grandparents of their own who would love to have your company. Local libraries often need people willing to read to children and be sure to check out literacy organizations such as reachoutandread.org and readingtokids.org.

Play with kids and stay smart!

REFERENCES

Role of grandparenting in postmenopausal women’s cognitive health: results from the Women’s Healthy Aging Project
Burn, Katherine F. BSc(Hons)1; Henderson, Victor W. MD2; Ames, David MD3; Dennerstein, Lorraine PhD, MBBS3; Szoeke, Cassandra PhD, FRACP, MBBS, BSc(Hons)1
Menopause: October 2014 - Volume 21 - Issue 10 - p 1069–1074
doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000236