Interactions between grandparents and grandchildren in a shelter for children

This research aims to describe aspects of the interactions between grandparents and grandchildren in a situation of institutional care and analyze them from the perspective of bio-ecology of human development. The study was conducted in a child care institution located in the Metropolitan Region of Belem participated in 25 grandparents and 31 children. The method of naturalistic observation and recording of the visits was used occurred in a cursive form, privileging the description of interactions between grandparents and grandchildren during the duration of the visit. The results showed that most grandfathers interacted affectionate and playful with his grandson, an aspect that can be considered positive because it increases the chance of the child so be reinserted into the bosom of his family home safely. Thus, it is suggested that new studies that take into account the importance of grandparents in the process of family reintegration of the child.