Here’s What Baby Boomers Are Like as Grandparents

Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers make up a large portion of grandparents today. That's because their children, who fall largely in the millennial generation, might be in the midst of their child-bearing years.

Every generation is hallmarked by common characteristics, meaning that boomers are bringing their own beliefs and values to the grandparenting game. This impacts how they interact with their grandkids on a generational scale.

Keep reading to learn some common characteristics of baby boomers, what they might be like as grandparents, and tips for fostering a healthy grandparent-grandchild relationship .

Common Baby Boomer Characteristics

While it's true that certain generational traits are more stereotypical than others, experts agree that boomers (and every other generation) share common beliefs, attitudes, and values. Here are some common baby boomer characteristics—though keep in mind they might not apply to every boomer in your life.

• Career-oriented: They're largely focused on work and career. Personal growth in these fields is important.
• Independent and resourceful: Baby boomers prioritize personal gratification and independence. People might describe them as resourceful, goal-oriented, disciplined, ambitious, and competitive.
• Tech savvy: Although they might prefer in-person interactions, they're willing to learn the tech of the times. You're likely to find them on social media .
• Optimistic: Boomers generally have an optimistic view of things ("look on the bright side!") because they have benefitted from decent wages, homeownership, and social changes.
• Resistant to change: Some boomers can be sensitive to feedback and judgmental of those who see things differently, which explains the "OK, boomer" memes you might've seen online.
• Family-focused: Baby boomers are often more focused on family than previous generations.

How Do Baby Boomers Act as Grandparents?

Every baby boomer will have a different approach to grandparenting , but experts notice a few overarching trends, which we outlined here.

They might spoil grandchildren with gifts and toys.

Many grandparents focus on ensuring physical needs are met—and this sentiment makes sense if you think about their background. When boomers were growing up, society was preoccupied with food security and having a roof over their heads, says Amy DeBlase, LMHC, LPC, PMH-C, clinical director and supervisor at Let's Talk Psychological Wellness . As a result, boomers "place different values on basic needs versus emotional ones, compared with their kids,” she says.

If it seems like boomer grandparents are quick to spoil their grandchildren with toys and other tangible things (instead of delving deep into emotional sentimentality), it’s not because they don’t care. It’s because they’re trying to give them what was missing from their own childhood.

Some boomer grandparents help with child care.

Some boomers play a large role in caring for their grandchildren. A 2023 Harris Poll found that 42% of working parents rely on grandparents—and specifically grandmothers—for child care. When the need for child care comes up unexpectedly, 41% say that grandma is "one person tagged in for unpaid care."

Similarly, a survey from Generations United and MetLife found that about 13% of surveyed grandparents regularly care for a grandchild. Of that percentage, about one-third babysit at least five days per week. Many factors might contribute to the trend of grandparents as child care providers: astronomical daycare costs , a larger percentage of mothers in the workforce, and more.

Not everyone shares this experience. Some parents feel like their boomer parents aren’t around enough for their kids. One reason might be that boomers are working longer, pushing off retirement and, with it, extra time to help watch the grandkids. A 2023 report from the Pew Research Center found that 19% of Americans age 65 and older had jobs in 2023, which is double the percentage compared with 35 years ago.

Boomers might use technology to interact with grandkids.

During the pandemic, everyone adjusted how they communicated with others. This included boomers, who embraced social media and video calls to stay connected with grandchildren—and who likely still rely on these high-tech methods today.

Technology especially comes in handy because, now more than ever before, grandparents might live far away from their grandkids. According to an AARP report from 2019 , more than half of grandparents have "at least one grandchild" living more than 200 miles away, and one-third live at least 50 miles from their closest grandchild.

That said, because boomers still value in-person interaction, they'll probably still enjoy day trips to the museum or the movies with the kiddos.

Boomer grandparents celebrate accomplishments.

Many boomers are work-centric and goal-orientated, so they likely prioritize schoolwork and education, and they're proud when grandkids achieve expectations. Grandparents might show up for an awards ceremony at school, but they may be quick to judge parents when grandkids face challenges. On the other hand, parents who came after the boomer generation are more likely to recognize that failure can teach lessons too, like building resilience .

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