The effectiveness of the Growing Up Together with Grandparents program

The effectiveness of the Growing Up Together with Grandparents program

In the spring and autumn of 2025, a pilot implementation of the new program was carried out in six Zagreb kindergartens and one pensioners' association. It allowed us to check whether the goals of the program, as well as each workshop separately, were achievable. We were interested in whether the activities in the workshops were useful, clear, interesting and applicable to grandparents in their families in which they share some parts of their lives with children and grandchildren.

Three instruments were used to evaluate the impact of the program

  • Questionnaires for grandparents at the first and last workshop (1.1. and 4.1.)
  • Questionnaire for evaluating the “Growing Up Together with Grandparents” program (4.2.)
  • Questionnaire for leaders after the pilot implementation of workshops with grandparents

48 grandparents aged 50–80 participated in the pilot implementation. More than 50% were employed and less than 10% lived in a household with their children and grandchildren. The number of grandchildren ranged from 1 to more than 6, and 48% had 2 grandchildren. The age of the grandchildren ranged from 1 to 28 years, and most grandchildren were of preschool age (65%). Grandparents see their grandchildren daily or several times a week (63%) and consider this to be sufficient given their capabilities (time available, health).

We will present some typical answers to certain questions that we asked the workshop participants and the facilitators.

At the beginning of the program, grandparents wanted to get answers to these questions through the workshops:

  • How to better understand grandchildren?
  • Tips for raising children in the 21st century?
  • Permissiveness – yes or no?
  • How to find a balance in helping parents raise grandchildren – when is it too much/too little?

After the workshops, we asked them if they found answers to the questions they asked at the beginning of the program?

  • 92.3% said “completely”
  • The rest said “partially”

Before the workshops, we asked:

“By participating in the workshops, would you like to change…?”

… how do you feel in the role of a grandmother/grandfather? 40% wished, 60% achieved

… something in your relationship with your daughter/son? 23% wished, 68% achieved

… something in your relationship with your son-in-law/daughter-in-law? 30% wished, 53% achieved

… in your relationship with your grandchildren? 31% wished, 66% achieved

The impact of the program on changing some attitudes can be illustrated by the response to the statement “I often know better than my daughter/son what is best for my grandchildren.” After the workshops, a trend of less agreement with this statement was observed. This trend towards positive attitudes towards parental responsibility is also observed in other statements regarding grandparents' attitudes about who is responsible for raising grandchildren.

After completing the program, we asked grandparents:

  1. What do you consider to be the most useful gain for yourself?
    • Confirmation that I am on the right path as a grandmother. Most of the advice are familiar to me and I already do it that way.
    • Confirmation of my role as a grandmother
    • Learning about my free time
    • Thinking about everything and trying to apply something
    • Exchanging experiences
      • Stories from the leaders and other people's experiences
      • Exchanging experiences, comparing how everyone copes with the role of grandmother
  2. What do you consider to be the most useful gain for grandchildren?
    • They have a good grandmother
    • I can pamper and spoil them as long as the rules don't conflict with the parents
    • Even greater connection.
    • I am constantly trying to adapt and be positive
    • Increase the intensity of all activities, because this period will not last forever
    • Memories, legacy
      • Realizing what I can pass on to them
      • ​​Experience and memories of childhood, time spent with grandma
    • Better knowledge of needs and development
      • How to behave towards them and react to their mischief
  3. Which of your expectations have you met, and which have not?
    • I came expecting nothing. Now I am richer for more knowledge.
    • Something completely new – very interesting and useful!

We received some answers from the workshop leaders:

Your experience of implementation: What was easy-difficult for you, interesting, etc.

  • It was easy to implement, experienced leaders, they managed even in emotionally demanding situations
  • Adaptation according to the age of the grandmothers and grandchildren

What were the grandparents' reactions to the activities?

  • They responded well, some participated more often and for longer, the questionnaires were a bit tiring
  • They like to talk about their grandchildren; personal opening went slower, they liked the games
  • The last workshop is a real hit, to stop at this moment in life and see what remains behind us.
  • Grandmothers exceeded our expectations

All the data we gathered through the applied questionnaires and the answers to the questions asked to the grandparents participating in the workshops and the group leaders largely confirm the expected effects of the program. We confirmed the justification and usefulness of the program, as well as the achievement of the set goals.

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