Grandparenting styles Several key studies were conducted to identify styles or types of grand-parenting. In it, the authors report five styles of grandparenting. Grandparents who adopt the formal style carefully separate themselves from the child-rearing role and offer no advice. They are interested in their grandchildren, provide special treats to indulge them, but never play the role of surrogate parent. Grandparents who adopt the fun-seeking style play with their grandchildren, enjoying them as a source of leisure activity.
Distant grandparents are benevolent, but remote.
Those who adopt the surrogate parent style become the primary caregiver for the grandchildren. Those who adopt the reservoir of family wisdom style dispense skills or resources to grandchildren. Remote grandparents tend to see their grandchildren infrequently and their relationships are formal and reserved. A number of factors affect the type or style of grandparenting. Chief among them are the grandparent's age, health and geographic distance between the grandparent and the grandchild.