In Australia, nearly one quarter of all 0-4-year-olds in child care are in the ‘informal’ care of grandparents (ABS, 2003). There is also evidence that the courts are assigning increasing numbers of children to the custodial care of grandparents. While there is a considerable body of descriptive literature that reports on the incidence and nature of grandparenting in relation to the custodial care of children, little is known about grandparents who are regular child care providers. This article draws from a larger study that sought to gain insights into grandparents' experiences as regular child care providers for children below school age. While these grandparents chose to care for their grandchildren they were also involved in balancing this responsibility with their own work commitments, their leisure activities, and a sense of family obligation. The grandparents' stories of their experiences highlight the need for greater recognition of the role grandparents play in supporting family cohesiveness and the contribution they make to society as a whole.
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