Grandparenting as Primary Care and Early Childhood Development: Evidence From a Coastal Region of China

Purpose: This study investigates the impacts of grandparenting as primary care on early childhood development to provide evidence for family service development in China. Method: Employing data on 6,986 preschool children from the Survey of Early Education, Development, and Strengths, which were collected in the Hangzhou region of Zhejiang Province in China in 2023–2024, this study conducts OLS regression analyses to examines the effects of grandparenting as primary care on preschool children's development. Results: Grandparenting as primary care is significantly associated with lower scores of overall and social–emotional developments of preschool children. However, for preschool children living with one parent, grandparenting as primary care has a protective effect on their overall development, and this protective effect mainly exists in low-income families. Discussion: The findings suggest important implications for social service programs in China that aim to train grandparents as primary caregivers to promote childcare support and family well-being.