In a grandchild-grandparent relationship, the grandparent is usually seen as the one who can teach, by sharing knowledge and life experiences. But that may not always be true. There are plenty of things that grandparents can learn from communication and interaction with grandchildren. The following are just a few!
- Get in touch about the current life events. It is not easy to keep track with a world which is so different from when the grandparents themselves were young. By spending time together, the grandchildren can become an important information source and a path to stay connected with the world.
- To keep being curious. Children like exploring and feel brave trying something new. So whether it is a new hobby, a trip to another country or signing up to your latino dancing class, just do it. You can be surprised of your results; moreover you will have one more topic to discuss with your grandchild.
- Communication and technology. The grandchildren are growing in digital age. They know how to search important information on the Internet or how to communicate via Facebook, Twitter or Whatsapp. Try not to be so skeptical and you will soon experience that with the help of your grandchildren, you can learn how to use it and benefit from maintaining better connections with the ones you love.
These are only few suggestions what can you learn from your grandchildren. More ideas are available online.
So give it a try! Spend time with your grandchildren, observe your interactions and you will notice how many things you both can learn from each other.
– Gabija Kisieliūtė is a third year psychology at the University of Vytautas Magnus in Lithuania. She is following a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Her main interests are family psychology and aging. She is participating in a summer internship programme at Willingness.com.mt.