11 Reasons Aunts are Everything and Science Can Prove It

11 Reasons Aunts are Everything and Science Can Prove It

Parenthood is great and all, but everyone knows the best job around is being an aunt. Aunts get to have all the fun with very little of the responsibility. So it’s no wonder aunts have such a positive impact on their nieces and nephews.

But being an aunt isn’t all fun and games. (Although, let’s face it, it’s mostly fun and games.) Aunthood comes with some big responsibilities, too. But nothing beats the positive influence of a loving aunt who takes the time to be present in the lives of her nieces and nephews.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are 11 reasons why aunts are everything, and science can prove it:

1. Need a Shoulder to Cry On? There’s an Aunt for That.

Aunts can provide emotional support to their nieces and nephews. They can also be confidants and someone to lean on during challenging times. The relationship can also promote secure attachments that will prove useful in adolescence and adulthood.

2. Aunts Offer Differing Viewpoints

As kids grow up and form their own opinions, it’s important for them to be exposed to different perspectives and ways of thinking. Aunts can offer viewpoints that are different from a child’s parents. This can provide a safe space for kids to talk about tough subjects they may not be comfortable discussing with their parents.

3. Aunts: The Family Referee

Parent/child relationships can be hard to navigate. Aunts can help mediate these relationships. They can offer conflict resolution and improve family dynamics.

4. Positive Role Models

Can a kid ever have too many positive role models? Aunts help influence the development of values and behaviors in their nieces and nephews, thus helping them grow up to be better humans.

5. Better Than a Stress Ball

Spending time with aunts is actually good for your stress levels. It’s good for the whole family’s stress levels. Quality time with an aunt provides emotional support and relief and lowers stress levels for children and parents.

6. A Friend and a Confidant

Let’s face it: there are some things a kid just doesn’t want to talk about with their parents. Aunts often provide a safe space for nieces and nephews to get guidance and support.

7. Family Storytellers

Aunts help keep family traditions and history alive. They can help instill cultural values and give kids a sense of identity.

8. Social Development 101

Aunts have skills—social skills, and they can help their nieces and nephews develop them, too just by interacting with them.

9. Healthy and Wise

Households with aunts hanging around are associated with reduced deviant behavior in children.

10. Aunts Boost Self-Esteem

If you want to feel better about yourself, you should spend more time with your aunts. Science has linked perceived support from aunts to higher self-esteem and life satisfaction in emerging adults.

11. The More Parent Figures, the Better

Aunts make great alloparents. What’s an alloparent? The term comes from the Greek word “allo” which means “other.” Children benefit from having many trusted adult parent figures in their lives. And who better to be a parent figure than someone who grew up in the same house you did?

So let’s hear it for the aunts who help balance out our children’s lives, provide support, help them become better people, and make all of our days a little brighter.