Engaging Children in Multigenerational Households: Grandparents’ Role in Early Childhood Development in Western Africa

• In Event: 20254 - Change and Continuity in Family and Kinship

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of grandparents within multigenerational households in sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about whether or how co-resident grandparents in this region of the world affect the early childhood development of young children in their households. We examine the relationship between grandparent co-residence and a precursor to healthy child development--children’s experiences with interactive learning activities--in six West Africa countries. Embedding a family systems approach within the context of West Africa, we predict (with one exception) that children will experience more interactive learning activities if there is a co-resident grandparent in their household, regardless of whether the grandparent is a grandmother or a grandfather. The exception is for grandparents who are primary caregivers, which nearly always signifies the absence of the mother from the household. Preliminary multilevel ordered logistic regression using a sample of 0-4 year olds represented in UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data support our hypotheses. Our findings suggest that grandparent co-residence constitutes a key dimension of early childhood environments.

Authors

• In Jeong Hwang, Harvard University

• Elizabeth Heger Boyle, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities