It is increasingly common for families to be spread out all over the country (if not the world) and children seem to grow up in environments where the various generations are more isolated. They may not get to see their grandparents very often–let alone any great-grandparents or other older adults. Even neighborhoods seem to be increasingly segregated and the generations might not get the chance to interact with the same frequency they once did. But, children benefit from relationships with older adults–and we all benefit from intergenerational interactions. Here are some suggestions for fostering more interaction with seniors for your children:
If children have grandparents, older aunts and uncles or trusted family friends in the area, it may be a matter of making the time and arrangements for them to spend more time together–including seniors in your activities, inviting them to parties or events, and fostering more involvement will take some extra effort on the part of the parents, but it will be worth it in terms of deeper relationships and helping your children learn to build relationships with older adults.
If family isn’t close by, there are other ways to increase exposure and interaction with elders–church and community events often provide great opportunities. When my kids were school-age, our church would have an annual “secret pal” activity where a senior and a child would be matched–the two would then send each other letters, cards, gifts, etc. through a variety of channels for about a month and then there was a big party where they got to meet each other and chat. It was fun and created lasting connections between the youth and the seniors in the congregation. Volunteer activities, community centers, and multigenerational classes are all ways your children can interact with and meet seniors in a safe and creative setting.
Finding ways for your children to expand their social experiences and learn how to appropriately interract with a variety of people–ages, genders, backgrounds–will help them to build a strong sense of self and a sense of belonging and community.