Elders and Youngsters - Activities Together

By: Jack Wilson

Seniors and children both benefit from opportunities to spend time together. Sometimes it is awkward unless some kind of structure is offered.

A good way to improve communication is to have a scavenger hunt in which children seek out seniors who exhibit certain visible characteristics, such as wearing a certain color, or hidden qualities that require questioning to determine, such as being born within a certain decade. Once found, the youth asks pre-selected questions and the two get to know each other better. Similarly a game of I Spy can be played about things which are clearly visible in the room or area or on the person.

The children can put on a play for the seniors, then explain one-on-one how they learned their lines, how they made their costumes, what they think the play was about, etc.

Stage a talent show where both the children and the seniors can perform any act they can think of. You can make a list for each group of suggestions for types of performances in case they can`t think of any. Anyone can play a comb and tissue instrument or a kazoo. You can provide kazoos for everyone and have a band, including sticks and cardboard for drums.

Have the children pretend to be animals and the seniors have to guess which animal is which. Then have the seniors perform the same and the children have to guess.

Have the children pretend to be doing whatever work they do on the farm or in the home or at school, on the playground, at the mall, and have the elders guess what task they are performing. Have the seniors demonstrate the work they used to do for a living or the hobby they now pursue.

Have them read to each other one-on-one. Bring books the children can read and big-print books for the elders to read to the children. Bring charts and maps and pictures and have the children explain the contents to the seniors, then reverse roles.

If feasible, have the children bring small pets and share them. Have them make up stories or tell about real events.

Have both groups study about safety matters regarding the other group and present their findings at the next visit. Do the same about any subject of interest to both groups. Have how-to projects where each teaches the other.

Bring wrapped gifts for everyone with their names on a tag and distribute them as you would at Christmas.

Consult with your local pre-school and kindergarten teacher for ideas for activities that everyone can enjoy regardless of skills or abilities. Check with a special education teacher, too.

Have each child learn a word or phrase in a foreign language and teach it to the elder; ask the elder if they know a word or phrase to teach the children.

Sing!

Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, share memories of good and bad times, tell stories, write diaries together, take lots of pictures and share them, bring in pictures of home and parents and siblings, cousins, parties, pets, babies, horses, etc.

Make scrapbooks together from magazine pictures. Color together in coloring books. Sit together in silence for 5 minutes.

Find a massage therapist who will come along and give everyone a massage and explain the benefits.

Bring in a friendly fireman to talk about fire safety and CPR, first aid. Be sure he or she knows how to talk to children.

Invite the coach of a local sports team to come in and demonstrate some moves. Maybe get members of the team to participate. The mascot too.

Get some nerf equipment and have some fun tossing back and forth or around in a circle.

Talk to the school principals for more ideas. Get the teachers involved. Bring up the issue at PTA meetings. Put out a newsletter asking for ideas.

With a little effort, communication between the old and the young can improve dramatically and benefit all the members of the families involved.