Elderly Persons’ Attitude Toward Children

Many school systems and other agencies across the nation are implementing or planning to implement programs involving older persons with children. Thus it now seems crucial to examine older person's attitudes toward children. Intergenerational encounters can be positive only if the attitudes of both groups are known and taken into consideration. The instrument, Elderly Persons’ Attitudes Toward Children, was administered to a random sample of persons over age 65 throughout the nation (N = 542). Results indicated that the elderly hold overall positive attitudes toward children; however, their responses reveal the complexities of attitudes. Negative attitudes toward some personality characteristics of children, as well as the belief that stricter methods of discipline should be used, were found. Higher levels of education, more frequent contact with children, and having grandchildren under the age of twelve were related to more positive attitudes toward children. This information should be useful to those involved in planning and implementing intergenerational programs in school and nonschool settings and for the design of training programs for elder volunteers desiring to work with children.