One thing that hasn’t changed so much is the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Spending time together means older generations can recapture the fun they had as youngsters and share their experiences with grandchildren. Experiences which might include telling stories about what their own granny and grandpa were like as children, visiting places as a family that meant the most to them as they were growing up, and sharing these stories to help the memories of the past live on through the current -and future – generations.
Young at heart
It can be easy to jump to assumptions about seniors but something many people forget is our grandparents were once children too. Playtime may look very different from generation to generation though, before computers and when the television only had a handful of channels to choose from, children spent more time playing outside, building forts, collecting conkers and having hotly contested marbles games. As a treat, there might be days out to the cinema or perhaps even the seaside.
One thing that hasn’t changed so much is the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Spending time together means older generations can recapture the fun they had as youngsters and share their experiences with grandchildren. Experiences which might include telling stories about what their own granny and grandpa were like as children, visiting places as a family that meant the most to them as they were growing up, and sharing these stories to help the memories of the past live on through the current -and future – generations.
Other ways grandparents help us
As well as giving grandchildren the chance to have new experiences and see the world from another perspective, time away with grandparents gives parents a much-needed break.
According to a study by Age UK, two-fifths of the nation’s grandparents over the age of 50 provide regular childcare for their grandchildren.
This time can range from a few hours for a date night or a chance to catch up with friends right through to providing longer-term child-minding. The family unit is constantly developing over time with more households having both parents working, or relying on one income from a single-parent unit. Having an extra pair of hands helps to ease the daily pressures and worries of having to find babysitters or other costly nurseries and after-school care.
For many grandparents, knowing they can help gives them a sense of purpose and fulfilment and helps keep them connected with their families, and younger generations. Also, time spent with grandchildren has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health and reduces the feeling of isolation.
How to celebrate Grandparent’s Day
The best way to celebrate is simply spending time with grandparents. Maybe you could visit somewhere they have been wanting to go for a while and treat them to an afternoon tea. Or why not have a cosy day at home baking, playing make-believe or getting stuck into some arts and crafts. Where ill-health prevents these types of activities or if families live in far-flung locations and home or abroad, an hour on the phone or a video call with the little ones included can be a nice touch to brighten their day and remind them of just how much they as grandparents, mean to us.
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