Encourage Your Children to Spend Time with their Grandparents
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Family
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As technology continues to dominate our lives more and more, kids are spending more time on social media and online than with their family and friends on a face-to-face basis. Being a parent, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you twice how hard it is to pluck your teenage kids away from their various screens. Where do we as parents fit in to their online routine? Not to mention, vital members of their extended family. For instance, where do your parents fit in to your kids’ lives?
Studies have shown that the elderly population are now acting younger than ever. Research had found that 7 5% of American grandparents are online, and even 45% are on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Technology is closing the gap between your kids and your parents, and in an age where a vast majority of people of all ages are now frequently online, your kids may be surprised at how much they can have in common with their grandparents.
This time spent together can be beneficial for you, for your parents, and your kids. Studies have shown that an hour a day with the grandkids can lead to a happy and fulfilled retirement for your parents, alongside hobbies, and financial security. Further studies have also shown that for post-menopausal women spending time with grandchildren can lower their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. Additionally, the sense of pride and purpose that being a grandparent can bring can give their retirement a sense of meaning, depending on what their retirement aspirations are.
So, what’s the best way for your parents and your kids to bond? Next to watching movies or TV with your grandchildren, the most popular activity for grandma and grandpa to do with the grandkids is shopping. But does a genuine relationship require a constant showering of gifts? Or do the little things make all the difference?
Encouraging them to spend genuine quality time will be a lot more valuable all-round in the long run. Why not encourage them to share hobbies? Whether it is a sport or a craft, younger grandkids would love to see how your parents spend their free time. Encouraging a creative streak in everyone would be a nice break from constant exposure to a computer or iPad screen. Crafting something together will really be invaluable to the kids, especially if they don’t exercise that part of the brain often. Also, exposing your kids to an additional side of their grandparents’ lives will add character to that ‘grandparent’ persona and help them develop more of a relationship; rather than see their grandparents as a distant figure who comes up in their parents’ conversations. Older kids will be more difficult to win over, but it depends on the personality of each child.
If your children and your parents have not spent a vast amount of time in each other’s company, that could be down to you. If your parents have relocated, why not take the kids to visit them at the weekend from time to time? Whether it be down the road, or in a community of mobile homes, it can be great for your kids to get a change of scene, and your parents will really appreciate the company. Who knows, they could get on like a house on fire, and that could spare up some well-deserved free time for you and your partner.
[Photo Credit: derekGavey]
Studies have shown that the elderly population are now acting younger than ever. Research had found that 7 5% of American grandparents are online, and even 45% are on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Technology is closing the gap between your kids and your parents, and in an age where a vast majority of people of all ages are now frequently online, your kids may be surprised at how much they can have in common with their grandparents.
This time spent together can be beneficial for you, for your parents, and your kids. Studies have shown that an hour a day with the grandkids can lead to a happy and fulfilled retirement for your parents, alongside hobbies, and financial security. Further studies have also shown that for post-menopausal women spending time with grandchildren can lower their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. Additionally, the sense of pride and purpose that being a grandparent can bring can give their retirement a sense of meaning, depending on what their retirement aspirations are.
So, what’s the best way for your parents and your kids to bond? Next to watching movies or TV with your grandchildren, the most popular activity for grandma and grandpa to do with the grandkids is shopping. But does a genuine relationship require a constant showering of gifts? Or do the little things make all the difference?
Encouraging them to spend genuine quality time will be a lot more valuable all-round in the long run. Why not encourage them to share hobbies? Whether it is a sport or a craft, younger grandkids would love to see how your parents spend their free time. Encouraging a creative streak in everyone would be a nice break from constant exposure to a computer or iPad screen. Crafting something together will really be invaluable to the kids, especially if they don’t exercise that part of the brain often. Also, exposing your kids to an additional side of their grandparents’ lives will add character to that ‘grandparent’ persona and help them develop more of a relationship; rather than see their grandparents as a distant figure who comes up in their parents’ conversations. Older kids will be more difficult to win over, but it depends on the personality of each child.
If your children and your parents have not spent a vast amount of time in each other’s company, that could be down to you. If your parents have relocated, why not take the kids to visit them at the weekend from time to time? Whether it be down the road, or in a community of mobile homes, it can be great for your kids to get a change of scene, and your parents will really appreciate the company. Who knows, they could get on like a house on fire, and that could spare up some well-deserved free time for you and your partner.
[Photo Credit: derekGavey]
