Get ready for Grandparents’ Day, Sept. 13
Grandparents Day 2009: Sept. 13
GrandparentsDay was the brainchild of Marian McQuade of Fayette County, W.Va., whohoped that such an observance might persuade grandchildren to tap thewisdom and heritage of their grandparents. President Jimmy Cartersigned the first presidential proclamation in 1978 — and one has beenissued each year since — designating the first Sunday after Labor Dayas National Grandparents Day. The first official observance was Sept.9, 1979. In honor of our nation’s grandparents, the Census Bureaupresents an array of data about these unsung role models and caregivers.
6.2 million
The number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 lived with them in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
Grandparents as Caregivers
2.5 million
The number ofgrandparents responsible for most of the basic needs (i.e., food,shelter, clothing) of one or more of the grandchildren who lived withthem in 2007. These grandparents represented about 40 percent of allgrandparents whose grandchildren lived with them. Of these caregivers,1.6 million were grandmothers, and 932,000 were grandfathers.
1.8 million
The number of grandparent-caregivers who were married in 2007.
1.5 million
The number of grandparents who were in the labor force and also responsible for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren.
930,000
Number of grandparents in 2007 responsible for caring for their grandchildren for at least the past five years.
482,000
Number of grandparents whose income was below the poverty level and who were caring for their grandchildren.
732,000
Number of grandparents with a disability who were caring for their grandchildren.
586,000
Number of grandparents who spoke a language other than English and who were responsible for caring for their grandchildren.
$44,469
Median income for families with grandparent-caregiver householders. Ifa parent of the grandchildren was not present, the median dropped to$33,453.
71%
Among grandparents who cared for their grandchildren in 2007, the percentage who lived in an owner-occupied home.
Source for statements in this section: 2007 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>
Grandchildren
6.6 million
The number of children living with a grandparent in 2008; thesechildren comprised 9 percent of all children in the United States. Themajority of these children, 4.4 million, lived in the grandparent’shome.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
2.6 million
The number of children who lived with both a grandmother and a grandfather in 2008.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>
30%
Among children younger than 5 whose mothers worked outside the home,the percentage cared for on a regular basis by a grandparent duringtheir mother’s working hours in 2005. Grandparents and fathers were thetwo biggest sources of child care by relatives when mothers went towork.
Source: Who’s Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Spring 2005
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/011574.html>