LOVING grandchildren might choose to give their grandma and grandpa a gift on Grandparents’ Day, or even just an extra-big hug to show them how important they are.

But while giving to grandparents can be a lovely thing to do, a new campaign is urging families to use the day, on October 4, to appreciate what grandparents can give to their grandchildren too.

The Interflora campaign surveyed 1,500 people and found that, with the chaos of modern life seemingly revolving around the internet, social media and mobile phones, the traditional life skills passed on both consciously and unconsciously by grandparents are highly prized by their families.

The study found the most popular things to learn from grandparents are cooking, etiquette, sewing, knitting and mending, confidence and history.

Cooking

Although ready meals frequently tend to be the modern way to eat, grandparents who were often brought up in the frugal post-war years will tend to cook from scratch, use fresher, more nutritious ingredients, and generally have a wealth of domestic knowledge to pass on to their grandchildren.

Family and parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says: “With decades of practice in the kitchen, and many of these before the advent of supermarket-ready meals, grandparents might well be dab culinary hands to enjoy informal cookery lessons from.

“What’s more, if they grew up in the lean post-war era, they’re probably especially adept at cooking up a storm on a budget – highly relevant for today’s cash-strapped students and twenty-somethings.”

Etiquette

The survey found that more than a quarter of people have been taught etiquette by grandparents and, while manners seem less important today than they were in previous generations, there’s no doubt they still help young people go further in life.

Joshi says: “Chances are grandparents know a good deal about tip-top etiquette and, with that generation gap, grandchildren are less likely to get grouchy about being reminded not to chew food with their mouth open or pick their nose.

“Whether it’s to gen-up on how to behave at a job interview, or at a first visit to a new girlfriend or boyfriend’s parents’ for Sunday lunch, make grandparents the go-to manners’ guides.”

Sewing, Knitting and Mending

Using a needle for knitting or sewing are skills that have fallen out of favour in the technological era. But the reality is that they’re still needed, both from a practical and a money-saving point of view.

“Asking grandma or gramps to show you how to get nifty with knitting needles or savvy with sewing not only saves money, but means you can wow friends with hand-crafted creations,” says Joshi.

“As for mending – be it darning a holey sock or patching up a small tear in a favourite top – it’s eco-friendly, money-saving and surprisingly satisfying.”

History

Learning about history helps us learn lessons about how to live life in the future, and there’s no better way for children to take those lessons on board than by hearing about history from people who lived through it, like their grandparents.

While, despite some children’s suspicions, grandmas and grandpas can’t offer first-hand anecdotes about dinosaurs, many were alive in the Second World War era and will happily share invaluable memories about that time with their grandchildren.

Joshi says: “They can give fascinating insights into how 20th century life was. If you want to know what people did all day before the internet and even colour TV, you know exactly who to ask.”

Confidence

Simply having the love and support of grandparents can make a huge difference to a child’s confidence and self-esteem.

Joshi explains: “Grandparents tend to see the best in their grandchildren – perhaps because they’re not living with their bad habits on a daily basis. They’re our biggest fans – who else will call their friends to boast about our achievements? And more than anything, they unconditionally adore us – what could be more confidence-boosting than that?”

“Whether it’s through practical help such as offering childcare, or emotional support such as providing a shoulder to cry on when a grandchild is having a tough time at school, grandparents are often utterly indispensable and a lot of families would struggle to keep going without them.”

Cari Rosen, editor of the social networking site for grandparents, Gransnet.com, says the five areas highlighted by the Interflora survey promote qualities such as long-term thinking, empathy and independence. “These are slow-burn skills with lifelong value, with the added benefit that your grandchildren will think of you fondly every time they employ them,” she says.

Rosen says Gransnet users teach their grandchildren all sorts of things, from knitting and decoupage to fun science projects and gardening.

She added: “Grandparents often have more time than parents, and perhaps more patience, and they seem to draw the best behaviour out of mutinous small children and monosyllabic teens, giving them more opportunities to seize a teachable moment.”