Family ROYALTY

Think celebs like Tom Hanks, Catherine-Zeta-Jones and Jim Carrey, and you may be surprised to hear they are grandparents. So, too, are Whoopi Goldberg and Mick Jagger, who’ve joined the prestigious ranks of great-grandparents. According to experts, this is a golden age for grandparents and great-grandparents. Because the baby boomers tended to have their babies in their mid-twenties and are also living longer, they’re more likely than ever before to become grandparents and great-grandparents.

So what does that mean for a family? Firstly, today’s great-grandparents could fill the role we traditionally associate with grandparents. With the average age of becoming a grandparent now at 49, they might well be busy working when the next generation arrives. “It might be the great-grandparent who has free time to provide a safe pair of hands, and have fun with the children,” says psychologist Dr Andrew J Cornes.

Great-grandparents are also a precious source of wisdom. “They’ve lived through experiences we can’t imagine, which is inspirational,” says Dr Cornes. “Great-grandparents can be windows into the past – they’ve known momentous moments in history and are guardians of the family stories. They can fill the gaps, which is so important to build a sense of who we