TO THEIR MUTUAL ADVANTAGE

[摘要] At opposite ends of the life line, children and grandparents have clear over- lapping interests. They should be interested in and involved with each other, not only for sentimental reasons, but also for crucial mutual developmental needs. An example of how this works appeared in a recent issue of Pediatrics.1 The comfort of a generation gap between a grandparent and children the ages of his grandchildren enables children entering adolescence to be more comfortable in learning about the origins and development of the human child. As Helene Deutsch2 has also demonstrated, closeness to the next generation may interfere with the ability of adolescents to bring their problems, worries, and troubles to their parents, or even to parental figures; but they often can relate to adults older than their parents with greater ease.

[学科分类] 儿科学