Grandparents 'work six hours a day' looking after grandchildren whilst their parents work, says study

With the financial crisis meaning parents cannot afford either for one or both of them to work part-time or look after the children round the clock instead of having a job, and childcare being prohibitively expensive, grandparents are playing a major role in the youngsters' upbringing – to the point where it is practically full-time, unpaid employment.

Traditional working hours and school hours do not coincide and flexible job timetables are very rare, meaning mums and dads who are employed full-time cannot be there for school runs, mealtimes or extra-curricular activities, or even in some cases, for getting kids ready for school in the morning and putting them to bed at night.

The SEGG says grandparents are an asset to children's upbringing, since their tolerance and life experience means they transmit traditions, values and teaching which is crucial to them.

Also, spending time with grandchildren helps combat loneliness and isolation, keeps them physically fit, improves their cognitive functions and allows them to 'feel useful' and fulfilled, the SEGG explains.

But the society warns that time spent with grandchildren should be 'enjoyable, relaxing and of quality' – yet some grandmothers and grandfathers find they are working the equivalent of a day in the office and suffer stress, anxiety, depression and physical and mental fatigue as a result.

Coinciding with yesterday (Saturday) being National Grandparents' Day, the SEGG has published a list of 'dos' and 'don'ts' for parents when it comes to handing their kids over to their own mothers and fathers.

The society warns parents not to take advantage of or overwork the grandparents, since they, too, have a right to a life of their own and to enjoy their free time, and to avoid arguing with the grandparents in front of the children – especially over matters which concern the children and even more so where the dispute is about the amount of time grandmothers and grandfathers spend looking after the little ones.

Additionally, the SEGG advises grandparents to 'learn to say no', to look after their own health, to set aside 'me time' and space for themselves, not take on too much, keep up healthy and open lines of communication with their grandchildren's parents, learn where their limitrs are and stick to them, and to carefully choose activities they carry out with the children to ensure everyone gets the best out of their time together.