Glad to see Grandparents getting so much coverage across the press today for being 'vital to the rise of man' (Observer) and 'why the evolution of grandparents was key to success of the human race' as the Daily Mail puts it.
This is all down to a report by Professor Rachel Caspari of Central Michigan Universtiy. It seems that 30,000 years ago the the numbers of humans reaching 30 or over began to rise dramatically, and that soon after that there was a rise in artistic expression, food production and the creation of tools and weapons.
It seems that the arrival of grandmothers to help forage for food, and grandfathers to pass on advice and knowledge about poisonous plants, location of water and skills such as tool-making all helped human beings to live longer.
All of us grandparents know that we are a wonderfully useful source of advice, experience and wisdom which we're happy to pass on to the younger generation – if they ask! Indeed today I was a guest on BBC Radio Newcastle and so impressed by the wisdom of the grannies and grandpas who phoned in. But it feels good to have a more public and scientifically approved recognition!
