Senior Living: Having Fun With Grandkids

 With extended families geographically spread out the bond between grandparents and grandkids has been sadly lacking.  Grandmothers and Grandfathers are typically portrayed as people who give expensive gifts and drop in once or twice a year to visit, not exactly a warm fuzzy picture is it?

 

The book “Together Again,” by Sharon Niederhaus portrays a different picture.  She feels that there is a definite benefit from having grandparents near by, and it isn’t all about chocolate chip cookies.  Kids are never alone when loving grandparents live nearby by.  Not only do grandparents love helping but they enjoy watching the kids grow and develop.

 

A grandparent may have painful joints and may not move quite as quickly but they can still enjoy being around young people.  It is nice to be able to participate in joyful activities with children while being able to go back to your own home at the end of the day.

 

Sherry B. Hanson, writing for Arthritis Today discussed creative ways to adapt activities so that it is possible to play with the grandkids while minimizing your own physical discomfort.   She suggested that knee punishing floor games such as blocks, Legos and puzzles can become table activities.  Encourage artistic creativity by working on craft projects together and even supply easy to use disposable cameras for them to record their projects.  If your hands and shoulders aren’t up to playing catch, you can bond with little sports fans in other ways.  The author suggests collections of baseball cards, pennants or other memorabilia from their favorite teams.  You can share their hobbies by taking them to games or finding books about stars in their field of interest.

 

Outdoor activities can be fun too.  Take the kids to the park to fly a kite.  They can do most of the work but a little gentle guidance is probably needed.  Go for nature hikes together, plant trees in their names, or start a small container garden for them to help with.  It doesn’t all have to be about cookies.  Start when they are young and grow together and don’t be surprised when they offer to help you retrieve your e-mail or look up something on the Internet.

 

Today grandparents range from late 30s to 100 years with grandchildren extending from newborns to retirees.  Typically all sides gain from a close relationship.  The grandchildren receive gifts of time, unconditional love and attention.  Grandparents get emotional satisfaction and a feeling of being needed.  Moreover, grandparents can give grandchildren an appreciation of the past and a sense of history.