Introduction

This book studies the many different ways in which the lives of the first, third, and fourth generations intersect and the reciprocal benefits that can accrue from establishing positive intergenerational bonds. The unifying feature across the chapters is that the authors view these relationships as a powerful influence on Quality of Life (QoL).

Focus and Perspective

The book takes the stance that older adults figure prominently in the QoL of young children, with the latter group defined here as ranging in age from infancy up to and including eight years of age. It examines how bonds with older adults can affect young children’s functioning across developmental domains—physical, emotional, social, and cognitive.

Key Questions Addressed

It addresses questions of importance to those who have a commitment to the very young such as: “What benefits can young children derive from positive bonds with older adults?”, “How do young children understand the aging process and develop respect for the elderly?”, “How can published research be used to guide both informal and formal interactions between the older generation and the newest one?” and, finally, “How can various stakeholders such as professionals, families, organizations, and communities collaborate to enrich and enlarge the kind and amount of support that older adults provide to the very young child?”