It is not out of the ordinary these days for people to have children past the age of 20. Unfortunately, more and more people in their 30s and 40s are having children, which means that by the time they go to college, these parents may be in their 50s or 60s, which makes them “older” parents.
“Adults are waiting to have children longer than before,” he says Brett A. Biller, Psy.D.,
Director of Mental Health at Audrey Hepburn Children’s House, Hackensack University Medical Center. He lists the reasons for early childbearing, which may include time spent completing education, building a career base and medical interventions that lead to older children.
And while it might seem like it would be harmful to be raised by an older parent—there would be a big generational divide, after all—it’s actually the opposite. As Dr. Biller, elderly caregivers have been found to have a secure social and emotional base, positive qualities that can be easily influenced on their children.
Related: Parents Who Are Not Close to Their Adult Children Often Have These 12 Behaviors, Psychologists Say.
A Positive Impact
Dr. Like Quimbya psychologist who has a Helpguide Handbook, says that the behavior that people inherit from their elderly parents is the best.
“Skills like maturity and determination are important—they really prepare you to be able to do things in life,” he explains.
Dr. Biller says that although there is great concern regarding the physical problems that may arise as a result of aging during pregnancy, many studies show that biological risks are reduced by the social, emotional and environmental stability of elderly caregivers, which in turn benefit their children.
There are two drawbacks to consider as well. For example, Dr. Biller says children of older parents may be stunted.
“Some research shows concern about the developmental delay experienced by children of parents called ‘aging,'” he explains. “It is hypothesized that developmental delay has an impact on the quality of life of elderly caregivers.”
Well, Dr. Quimby says that these children may be considered more “cautious,” which “can make you less open to new ideas, which can be a challenge in our ever-changing world,” he shares. “The impact of this behavior varies greatly depending on the circumstances.”
Related: People whose parents weren’t romantically involved in childhood often develop these 10 traits as adults, say psychologists.
7 Traits Common to People Raised by ‘Great’ Parents, According to Psychologists
1. Growth
“Children of older parents tend to grow up faster,” Dr. Quimby says. “They tend to associate with parents who have accumulated decades of wisdom, which helps them think and act beyond their years.”
2. Value Culture
Since the elderly parents often lived a lot and saw a lot, as Dr. Quimby, naturally, can pass on certain experiences and traditions to their children, who often develop a strong sense of heritage.
3. Encouragement in Education
“Many things serve as a foundation for educational development and ultimate success,” Dr. Biller says. “Children raised by older caregivers are often exposed to more opportunities to learn and are less affected by social media.”
Related: People Whose Parents Divorced When They Were Young Often Develop These 12 Behaviors as Adults, Psychologists Say
4. Patience
Dr. Quimby believes that growing up with older parents can teach a child to be patient at a young age, “especially if you find yourself explaining how to use modern technology to someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience,” he says, if the situation works.
5. Getting around
Older parents tend to be more active in their careers when they have children, allowing them to earn more money and the opportunities their children are exposed to. “Enhanced opportunities may include outdoor activities, vacations, personal training/studies or outdoor dining experiences,” says Dr. Biller.
6. Responsibility
“When your parents are older, you can learn to be faster,” says Dr. Quimby. “Children in this situation often face responsibilities early on as they may need to help a lot at home.”
7. Greater Emotional Resilience
Dr. Quimby also says that dealing with problems such as the health of aging parents from a young age can make it difficult when you are faced with difficult changes.
The following:
Related: Adults Who Are ‘Only Children’ Always Develop These 7 Traits As Adults, Psychologists Say
Sources
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Child Development: “Parental Age and Infant Mental Health: A Multi-Cohort, Population-Based Analysis”
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PLOS Medicine: “Paternal Age is Associated with Impaired Neurocognitive Outcomes During Infancy and Childhood”