August 28, 2022
August 28, 2022
When school is out of session, children celebrate – for a few days. Then, the dreaded “I’m bored” mantra often kicks in. There are so many things children can do to stay active, both mentally and physically, in the summer. They can hit the pool, go to summer camps, or start a reading challenge at the local library, but for some reason, volunteering is often overlooked. So if you’re looking for something to stop boredom dead in its tracks and benefit your child and the community, you should think about ways for your child to interact with the elderly in your area.
The relationship between the elderly and the youth of society may not be one that’s particularly well fostered, but it should be. If more people understood how bringing children and older people together benefits both groups, then there may be more opportunities to improve the wellbeing of all.
So what are the benefits of intergenerational programs? And what benefits do elderly people get from the interaction with children? Read on to find out the answers to that question and more.
Connecting Children And The Elderly: The Benefits
Unfortunately, seniors are often overlooked in communities, but the truth is they are a valuable resource. Most people don’t consider how elders have a positive influence on the younger generation – or how the benefits work in the other direction. Rest assured, however, that there are many ways each of these age groups benefits the other.
For seniors, spending time with youth helps to keep them active, both mentally and physically. Another important way that the elderly benefit from time with younger people is that it helps to assuage their loneliness, since loneliness is a major factor for a lot of people as they grow older. They may feel as if they’ve been forgotten, but participating in programs where they interact with younger people can help reduce these feelings of loneliness and increase their feelings of wellbeing, belonging, and self-esteem.
Spending time with younger people also allows seniors the ability to pass on their knowledge. They’ve lived for a long time, after all, and the wisdom they possess is priceless. Sharing what they know helps to give them something that a lot of seniors seem to be missing: a sense of purpose in their lives.
What does it mean to pass on knowledge? It can mean sharing some wisdom with a younger person who needs it or passing along a skill they’ve had a lifetime to hone. Telling stories and making new connections can help older people to feel a sense of satisfaction and pride while intriguing younger people with tales of life in a bygone era.
Conversely, younger people have a lot to teach seniors, especially about technology. It can be tough for many seniors to adapt to the rapid changes of the digital age, which can feel overwhelming and confusing. But younger people can often present technology in a way that seems less intimidating. Additionally, kids are often enthusiastic about the latest technological advances, and that enthusiasm can be catching.
How Children Benefit from Time With Seniors
Of course, it’s not simply the elderly who benefit from time with younger people – younger people benefit from these interactions as well.
Spending time with seniors helps children to become more empathetic to the needs of older people. It’s unfortunate that many seniors are ignored, not taken seriously, or dismissed in the public sphere. When a child takes the time to make connections with elderly people, they understand the respect they should have as well as the physical and cognitive struggles they may be going through.
Spending time with people older than them also helps kids learn to become good listeners. Being around seniors who may have difficulty hearing or communicating their thoughts helps your child learn to listen and be patient with the limitations of others.
The wisdom of seniors also is an amazing gift that children benefit from. Listening to them recount their pasts and the historical events they’ve lived through is irreplaceable. They can help your child to gain insights into history, and what it takes to make good decisions and accomplish life goals. It can really help children think about their own lives and what they want to accomplish, hopefully encouraging them to make better choices for themselves.
Finally, exposing your child to interactions with other adults helps them to develop confidence and comfort. The more adults, including seniors, that your child is around, the better they may be able to handle their own transition into adulthood.
Challenges To Consider
While there may be innumerable benefits to building relationships and fostering interactions between young people and the elderly, there are also challenges that must be understood. It’s not that connecting these two age groups is a new thing – intergenerational programs have been around for a long time. The real challenge is the barriers that exist to bringing these programs to life in many communities.
Proximity is often a challenge, since the places seniors can be found are often not the same places that young people frequent. Programs that connect schools and senior living communities have been successful in creating and maintaining these important relationships, but those programs can be tough to find.
If there are no formal programs, you’ll need to create your own opportunities for your child to connect with seniors. You can do this in a few important ways:
Bringing together generations may not always be simple, but it’ll be worth it. Investigate how your child can become more involved with older people in your community and watch both groups benefit from the connection.
Featured image by Ekaterina Shakharova on Unsplash