Want to live longer, be happier and invest in the future? Start babysitting. According to The Berlin Aging Study, grandparents who helped care for their grandchildren had a 37 percent lower risk of death compared to those who didn’t. Another study found they performed better on cognitive tests.

The Washington Post put it this way: “Through one-on-one physical play together, grandparents and grandchildren can get to better know, understand and appreciate each other. It’s inherently social, mentally stimulating, lends your life an extra sense of purpose and meaning, and can establish a wholesome lifetime relationship.”

It is also a win for grandkids.

“Grandparents often play a key role in shaping attitudes toward physical activity in family cultures,” says Michael Rogers, a professor of human performance studies. “They can be role models in transmitting an active lifestyle. They legitimize it for future generations as a worthwhile practice for staying healthy.”

Another benefit is that children grow up with more respect toward the older generation. This gives wonderful insight into the future.

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (Zechariah 8:4-5).

This verse illustrates a World Tomorrow baby boom. The streets will be full of boys and girls playing together. But unlike in our world today, there will be no riots and chaos. A major reason is the involvement of the older generation with the younger.

Parents, of course, will be responsible for their children. But this verse indicates that the older generation will play a much greater role. This may be one factor enabling parents to have more children.

Imagine thousands of children in the streets of the World Tomorrow! For their playtime they are being watched by the older generation—knowing their parents will find out if they get in trouble.

Joel Hilliker wrote about this prophecy: “This city is a lively family community, the Feast of Tabernacles multiplied by a thousand!” (Royal Vision, September-October 2010).

Proverbs 17:6 notes, “Children’s children are the crown of old men.” Psalm 128:6 counts it a blessing to “see thy children’s children.” This ensures that vital spiritual lessons are being passed on. “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4).

As with many topics, man’s modern studies have “discovered” the enduring truth explained in Scripture.

We need not wait until the World Tomorrow to bring the old and young together. Those needs are apparent today. The older generation can meet those needs—and begin living the World Tomorrow today—by becoming involved in the lives of young children.