March 24, 1999
FAMILY MATTERS:
Let children spend time with senior adults
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Yesterday my 5-year-old had a wonderful visit in the mall with an older man who was waiting for his wife. I realized my children have almost no contact with senior adults. Our parents live out-of-state, my neighborhood is mostly young couples and in church, the kids are involved in children's ministries. How can I make sure my children have good interaction with senior adults?
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SANDY ABERNATHY
Director, Buckner
ElderCare Services
Dallas
What a wonderful desire for your children. So many parents do not realize the powerful influence seniors can have on children's lives. Nor do they realize how necessary this interaction is to children forming a well-rounded perspective for life.
___Many activities are available to help give your children exposure to seniors--visiting retirement and nursing communities, volunteering at adult daycares, participating in special events at church where senior Sunday school classes are mixing with children and youth classes. These all are good, but often don't provide the child with a one-on-one atmosphere that allows relationship-building.
___Another suggestion is to "adopt a grandparent." This can be done through your church, a social service agency or on your own. Adopting a grandparent allows multiple visits in a comfortable setting where your children really can get to know and enjoy a senior adult.
___ Do it for the senior adult. Many are in exactly the same situation as your parents because their grandchildren are too far away to visit. The senior may be homebound or severely limited, leaving a feeling of isolation from family and church and often having no contact with children of any age.
___Do it for yourself. You will delight in watching your children listening to a senior talking about the "old days" when there were no TV and microwave ovens, when they walked to one-room school houses and worked the farm, when moms made quilts and homemade biscuits because there were no frozen dinners.
___Do it for your children. Children who don't have seniors in their lives miss important lessons. They don't see and understand life's cycles; they don't experience the wisdom and patience that often comes with age. In a world of haste, where time is rushed, relationships are shallow and expectations are high, children often flourish in the presence of a senior adult.
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