Forget Daddy cool – Grandparents are cool!
The coolest grandparents let you stay up late, laugh at rude rhymes, tell you secrets and are on Facebook according to a new study.
Researchers polled 2,000 children aged 5 to15 to establish the traits and attributes that grandparents possess to be deemed ‘cool’.
On-trend grannies and granddads also own an ipad, always have home-made cakes available and push money in to your hands whilst saying ‘shhhh.’
Finding YouTube videos funny, letting you choose what you want for dinner, having picnics indoors and playing on the Wii were also on the cool list. As was knowing lots of card games, listening to your music, letting you bake without moaning about the mess, and taking you on days out.
The poll by McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading retirement developer, also revealed the coolest grandparents are most likely to be called Ted and Maggie. They let their grandkids play in rain, always have sweets on hand and have an array of rude jokes up their sleeves.
In the cool stakes, the research found 65 per cent of children described their grandparents as cool, 75 per cent said they hoped to be like their grandparents when they grow old and 70 per cent also said they thought their grandparents were much younger than their years.
Kim Caldwell, Sales & Marketing Operations Director, McCarthy & Stone said: “This survey shows how fondly children think of their grandparents.
“While they want their grandparents to be up to speed with the latest technology, it seems they still hanker for traditional things like card games, picnics and of course, extra pocket money. They also love days out with them and being taken on holiday.
“Having the time and freedom to spend with your grandchildren pays dividends for retirees, it’s treasured time that children will remember forever.”
Two thirds of grandchildren said they can be a lot naughtier with their grandparents as they can get away with a lot more and a crafty 15 per cent said they often do very well financially out of granny and granddad. While touchingly, more than six in ten 5 to15 year olds feel they can talk to their grandmother or grandfather about absolutely anything.
And eight in ten said they felt upmost respect for their mum and dad’s parents, with the main reason being because they say what they think. Giving good advice, producing amazing meals and still being in love were other things kids admired. And one in five said ‘they hold the family together’.
Adds Kim Caldwell of McCarthy & Stone: “This research shows that today’s grandparents earn the highest regard and respect from their grandchildren for their fun, independence and values.
“Not only do they get stuck into their lives and interests they pass on knowledge, advice and give their grandchildren a take on life they might not otherwise get.”
THE COOLEST GRANDPARENTS – TOP 25
1. Let you stay up late
2. Push money into our hands going ‘sshh’
3. Take you on days out
4. Let you choose what you want for dinner
5. Always have homemade cakes available
6. Always have sweets on hand
7. Let you bake and don’t moan about the mess
8. Take you on holiday with them
9. Like listening to your music in the car
10. They laugh at You Tube videos
11. Know lots of card games
12. Help you build dens
13. Let you have picnics indoors
14. Play on the Wii
15. Tell you secrets you’re not allowed to tell your parents
16. Laugh at rude songs you learnt in school
17. Have a drawer full of magnificent jewellery and nik-naks
18. Let you go on the computer as long as you want
19. Know modern songs
20 Bring hot chocolate/tea to you in bed
21. Teach you about flowers and trees
22. Let you ride on the lawn mower
23. Let you play out in the rain
24. Teach you to swim
25. Keep secrets from Mum and Dad
COOLEST GRANDPARENTS WILL OWN…TOP TEN
1. iPad
2. Flat screen TV
3. iPhone
4. Holiday home abroad
5. HD TV
6. Lots of games
7. Facebook Account
8. Email account
9. Swinging hammock
10. Dog
COOLEST GRANDPARENTS DRIVE – TOP 5
1. Range Rover
2. Mini Cooper
3. Land Rover Discovery
4. Porsche
5. Mazda MX-5
COOLEST GRANDPARENTS IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Female – Sharon Osbourne
Male – Mick Jagger
NAME OF THE COOLEST GRANNY – TOP 10
1. Maggie
2. Sue
3. Marilyn
4. Linda
5. Pam
6. Jenny
7. Sally
8. Janet
9. Wendy
10. Carol
NAME OF THE COOLEST GRANDDAD – TOP 10
1. Ted
2. Steve
3. Bob
4. Richard
5. Graham
6. David
7. Pete
8. Mike
9. Brian
10. Doug
If you’re a grandparent, how cool do you rate in comparison to this?
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