It’s not outside the norm these days for individuals to have children far beyond their twenties. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly common for those in their late thirties and into their forties to have children, which means that when they’re heading off to college, these parents can be well into their fifties or sixties, which would designate them as “older” parents.
“Adults are waiting to have children longer than in the past,” says Brett A. Biller, Psy.D.,
Director of Mental Health at the Audrey Hepburn Children’s House, Hackensack University Medical Center. He lists the reasons for this later onset of having children, which can include time committed to complete education, building a foundation for careers and medical interventions that facilitate having children at an advanced age.
And while it may seem as if it might be detrimental to be raised by an older parent—there would be a greater generational divide, after all—it’s actually the opposite. As Dr. Biller says, older caregivers have been found to have more secure social and emotional foundations, favorable characteristics that can easily rub off on their children.
Related: Parents Who Aren’t Close With Their Adult Kids Often Have These 12 Traits, Psychologists Say
A Positive Impact
Dr. Dakari Quimby, a clinical psychologist with Helpguide Handbook, says that the traits that people inherit from their older parents are predominantly positive.
“Skills like maturity and resilience are invaluable—they prepare you well for life’s throws,” he explains.
Dr. Biller says that while there is great concern regarding physical difficulties that may arise as a result of advanced age at the time of conception, most research demonstrates that the biological risks are mitigated by the social, emotional and environmental stability of older caregivers, which subsequently has a beneficial impact on their children.
There are a couple drawbacks to consider as well. For instance, Dr. Biller says that the children of older parents might experience developmental delays.
“Some research identifies concerns regarding developmental delays experienced by children of parents considered ‘advanced age,’” he explains. “It is believed that the developmental delays are related to biological factors of the aging caregivers.”
Then, Dr. Quimby says that these children might be considered more “conservative,” which “might make you less open to new ideas, which could be a downside in our world that is constantly changing,” he shares. “The impact of these traits varies a lot based on certain circumstances.”
7 Common Traits of People Raised by ‘Older’ Parents, According to Psychologists
1. Maturity
“Kids of older parents often grow up fast,” Dr. Quimby says. “They’re usually engaging with parents who’ve gathered decades of wisdom, which helps them think and act beyond their years.”
2. Appreciation for Traditions
Since older parents have generally lived more and seen more, as Dr. Quimby points out, naturally, they can pass on more experiences and traditions to their kids, who tend to grow a strong sense of heritage.
3. Academically Motivated
“Several factors serve as the foundation for advanced academic motivation and eventual success,” Dr. Biller says. “Children raised by older caregivers are typically exposed to greater opportunities for learning and are less impacted by social distractions.”
4. Patience
Dr. Quimby believes that growing up with older parents might teach a child patience earlier in life, “especially if you find yourself explaining how to use the latest technology to someone who’s not quite tech-savvy,” he says, if the situation applies.
5. Being Well-Rounded
Older parents tend to be more established in their careers when they have children, leading to potentially greater financial resources and opportunities to which their children are exposed. “Enhanced opportunities can include extracurricular activities, vacations, private coaching/lessons or external dining experiences,” Dr. Biller says.
6. Responsibility
“When your parents are older, you might learn to step up sooner,” Dr. Quimby says. “Kids in this scenario often face responsibilities earlier as they might need to help out more at home.”
7. Greater Emotional Resilience
Dr. Quimby also says that dealing with challenges such as health issues of aging parents from a young age could make you tougher when facing difficult transitions.
Up Next:
Sources
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Child Development: “Parental Age and Offspring Childhood Mental Health: A Multi‐Cohort, Population‐Based Investigation”
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PLOS Medicine: “Advanced Paternal Age Is Associated with Impaired Neurocognitive Outcomes during Infancy and Childhood”
