They say that grandparents always get on the best with kids as they have a mutual enemy. There's a certain truth to this joke, as grandparents and children always have a different perspective on the parents in the mix. Of course, grandparents have an additional layer of wisdom to bring to the mix, as they were once parents themselves. That means they can often understand things in a new way, offering a little more distance, fresher eyes, and the benefit of experience.

That's part of why grandparents can be such a valuable presence in a child's life. The other reason is that it really does take a village to raise a child. Taking some strain off the parents by stepping in to take care of the grandchildren is only the start of it. Children also benefit hugely from having someone in their corner who they can confide in, who is outside of their immediate circle at home. They can hear a different point of view and learn stories about things that happened before they were born. They may enjoy someone to stay with or go on trips with, and they get to be spoiled for a while without it turning them into a total brat!

Truly, a wonderful and involved grandparent is a blessing. A grandma, in particular, can be a genuinely wonderful influence and support for a child and the family generally, as she is statistically more likely to be highly involved, and as a mother herself from a time when mothers were rather more involved than fathers, she has a particularly useful "resume" that can benefit both mothers and fathers today

Are you the greatest granny of them all? Let's find out!