On the first Sunday after Labor Day, (this year Sept. 7), Americans honor their grandparents. President Jimmy Carter created National Grandparents Day in 1978 and made official proclamation in 1979.
In President Obama's 2013 proclamation, he said, "Grandparents are a tremendous source of wisdom, strength, and joy. They are caregivers, teachers, and friends — windows to the past and guideposts for the future."
Today's grandparents are living longer than those in past generations, due to advanced medical care and a focus on healthier lifestyles that include exercise and participation in sports activities, like golfing, swimming and tennis.
Many are waiting to retire until closer to age 70, perhaps because they are having a greater role in supporting or raising their grandchildren. In 2025, about 2.9 million U.S. children lived in a household headed by a grandparent. Vice President JD Vance, Maya Angelou, Carol Burnett, Bill Clinton, Willie Nelson, Jack Nicholson, Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey are among celebrities raised by their grandparents.
Some 53 percent of grandparents are helping pay their grandchildren's college costs to the tune of approximately $25,000, according to new research from Fidelity Investments.
Social media means a lot to older adults. AARP's 2025 report indicates that 72 percent of adults 50+ are on Facebook.
If you want to honor your grandparents this year, spend some time with them. Ask them about their childhood, the challenges they had to overcome in their lives, and what advice they would give you for your own life.
