MONTREAL, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A family that plays together does indeed stay together, say Canadian researchers who call recreation the glue sealing intergenerational bonds.
Researchers from Concordia University in Montreal and Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, say the study builds on previous research that found healthy intergenerational connections help grandparents age better and feel more positively about life.
"Leisure is vital in the formation of bonds that last from generation to generation," lead author Shannon Hebblethwaite of Concordia University says in a statement.
"Shared leisure time allows grandchildren and their grandparents to establish common interests that, in turn, enable them to develop strong intergenerational relationships."
The study involved 16 retired or semi-retired grandparents, ages 65-89, and 14 grandchildren, ages 18-24.
The study, published in Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, found what typically brought generations together were: vacations, holiday celebrations, cooking, shopping and gardening.
Grandparents often use these type of occasions to teach, mentor and pass on legacies.
"They share family histories, personal experiences and life lessons," Hebblethwaite says. "They pass on family values, traditions and stressed the importance of family cohesion."
