I have experienced it's not always easy to get people of different age groups to see eye to eye, and that's especially true of children and the elderly. For example, what could my ten-year old granddaughter, Ilfi Fatihah possibily have in common with me a 74-year old grandfather?
In many situations as an elderly, I crave the attention and interest of my children & grandchildren, and would love to sit and talk with them. I realised communication is a two-way street. Many older people feel that young children don't like us because we are slow or believe we don't have much knowledge like their teachers in schools to talk about. Wide gaps in age & beliefs contribute to communication difficulties.
I found that encouraging children to take an interest in grandma or grandpa is a matter of upbringing and family values. Children who are taught to respect their elders are much more inclined to take care of them. Those who have developed close emotional bonds & love with grandparents are more understanding & caring of their elders. Quality of life for both children & their elders means regular communication.
Based on my own experience, I observed that parents must show children through their behaviours how they want them to behave toward their elders. Parents should plan family activities that include their children & grandchildren. Engage in storytelling through communication.
As an HRD practitioner, I realised that crossing bridges should be one at a time. So, developing any kind of relationship takes time, interest, and effort. Most young children are often afraid of their elders and need to be encouraged steadily in a positive manner for optimal success.
Even for me, it takes quite a bit of time to adapt with my vibrant, smart, IT savvy, and active grandchildren, so I also allowed them time to adjust accordingly as well.
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