Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents

Mürüvvet Kartal Baş; Belma Tuğrul

Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents

Abstract

This study examines the educational support of grandparents who provide care and educational assistance to their grandchildren during early childhood. Adopting a qualitative research design, semi-structured focus group sessions were conducted with grandparents actively involved in the care of children aged 2 to 8. The findings reveal that grandparents’ caregiving practices systematically focus on routines, behavior management, promoting socialization, and supporting healthy development. Participants emphasized that they help children’s learning, encourage social interactions, and face challenges related to adapting to contemporary educational and technological demands. Grandparents generally rely on their adult children for guidance but also highlight the importance of training programs tailored to their caregiving roles. The study outlines the potential of schools and educators as accessible platforms for providing targeted education and support, enhancing grandparents’ competencies, and promoting holistic child development. These findings offer practical recommendations for inclusive educational interventions that expand collaboration between families and educational institutions, including the prevalence of intergenerational caregiving dynamics.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No funding was received for this study.

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Istanbul Aydın University Educational Sciences Ethics Committee, decision number 2024/04, dated 15.05.2024.

Thanks

Not applicable.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Child Development Education, Other Fields of Education (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mürüvvet Kartal Baş ^*
Türkiye

Belma Tuğrul
0000-0002-4487-4514
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 24, 2026

Submission Date

December 2, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kartal Baş, M., & Tuğrul, B. (2026). Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents. Journal of Child Development and Education, 2(2), 63-75. https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE

AMA

1.Kartal Baş M, Tuğrul B. Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents. JOCDE. 2026;2(2):63-75. https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE

Chicago

Kartal Baş, Mürüvvet, and Belma Tuğrul. 2026. “Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents”. Journal of Child Development and Education 2 (2): 63-75. https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE.

EndNote

Kartal Baş M, Tuğrul B (June 1, 2026) Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents. Journal of Child Development and Education 2 2 63–75.

IEEE

[1]M. Kartal Baş and B. Tuğrul, “Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents”, JOCDE, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 63–75, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE

ISNAD

Kartal Baş, Mürüvvet - Tuğrul, Belma. “Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents”. Journal of Child Development and Education 2/2 (June 1, 2026): 63-75. https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE.

JAMA

1.Kartal Baş M, Tuğrul B. Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents. JOCDE. 2026;2:63–75.

MLA

Kartal Baş, Mürüvvet, and Belma Tuğrul. “Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents”. Journal of Child Development and Education, vol. 2, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 63-75, https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE.

Vancouver

1.Mürüvvet Kartal Baş, Belma Tuğrul. Grandparenting in Early Childhood: Educational Support Needs for Caregiving Grandparents. JOCDE [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;2(2):63-75. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA97LP43ZE