Children know that being with their grandparents is special. A grandparent's love is the unconditional stuff of fairy tales. They just like what you do, any way you do it. Children can get undivided time and attention from grandparents that tired, busy parents often can't give them. But when I visit with Grandma and go shopping, she always has plenty of time and lets me look at whatever I want to.
Children have someone to talk with and confide in.
While children may want to be different from their parents, they often don't mind being like their grandparents. This gives grandparents a lot of power and ability to influence a troubled or confused child. Through sharing in a grandparent's interests, skills, and hobbies, children are introduced to new activities and ideas. Grandparents can be very patient, effective teachers. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes children pick up from grandparents tend to stick with them through life more than those picked up from other sources.