For one boy, his grandmother stands above all else in his family.

As seen in a 2008 video that has recently gone viral again, the boy says his 100-year-old grandma, who he calls "MaMaw," has had a profound effect on his life.

"God made grandmothers to love and care about you, that's all I know," he started the video with. "If she wouldn't be on this Earth, I wouldn't be on this Earth."

Grandmothers are an important part of every child's experience while growing up. In fact, research from Brigham Young University found that children are more social and involved in their school when their grandparents are involved in their childhood. And these children are more likely to show care for people outside their family.

This only improves in single-parent homes or when the grandparent doesn't live with the child, the study said. Right now, about 2 percent of American families live with a grandparent, according to the American Family Survey.

Most children benefit because grandparents encourage positive development for children, rather than focus on negatives, the BYU study said.

"Grandparents matter above and beyond parents," BYU researcher Jeremy Yorgason said. "They are an important resource."