Learning with Grandparents

This project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), examined how 3-6 year old children learn at home with their grandparents, in Bengali-speaking and English-speaking families living in Tower Hamlets, East London. Grandparents answered a questionnaire about what kind of activities they did with their grandchildren, and were interviewed about the learning that took place.

Videorecordings were made of grandparents and children doing activities together, from cookery and gardening to reading poetry and working on the computer. Analysis reveals how the intergenerational exchange develops concepts and skills that complement children's school learning, and involves cultural continuity as well as change.

Publications

• Intergenerational Learning Between Children and Grandparents in East London
  Summary Report to the ESRC
  Charmian Kenner, Eve Gregory, John Jessel, Mahera Ruby and Tahera Arju (2004)
• Intergenerational Learning Between Children and Grandparents in East London
  Full Report to the ESRC
  Charmian Kenner, Eve Gregory, John Jessel, Mahera Ruby and Tahera Arju (2004)
• Kenner, C., Arju, T., Gregory, E., Jessel, J. and Ruby, M. (2004) The role of grandparents in children's learning. Primary Practice 38, 41-44.
• Kenner, C., Ruby, M., Gregory, E., Jessel, J. and Arju, T. (2007) Intergenerational learning between children and grandparents in East London. Journal of Early Childhood Research 5 (3), 219-243.
• Ruby, M., Kenner, C., Jessel, J., Gregory, E. and Arju, T. (2007) Gardening with grandparents: an early engagement with the science curriculum. Early Years 27 (2), 131-144.
• Gregory, E., Arju, T., Jessel, J., Kenner, C. and Ruby, M. (2007) Snow White in different guises: Interlingual and intercultural exchanges between grandparents and young children at home in East London. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy 7 (1), 5-25.
• Kenner, C., Ruby, M., Jessel, J., Gregory, E. and Arju, T. (2008) Intergenerational learning events around the computer. Language and Education 22 (4), 298-319.

Presentations

• Learning at home with grandparents

Professional development

• Kenner, C., Arju, T., Gregory, E., Jessel, J. and Ruby, M. (2005) Young Children Learning at Home with Grandparents: Materials for teacher education
• Learning with Grandparents: Materials for schools (developed in association with Grandparents Plus and the Basic Skills Agency) Good practice cards, school leaflet, project report

Directors

Project Director: Dr Charmian Kenner

Project Director: Dr John Jessel
Email: j.jessel@gold.ac.uk

Project Director: Professor Eve Gregory
Email: e.gregory@gold.ac.uk