Fun & Practical Ways to Balance Young Kid & Aging Parent Responsibilities

Many adult children are caring for their elderly parent while raising young kids too. It can be challenging to meet the responsibilities of both of these age ranges. There are some fantastic benefits from involving your senior parent into the activities of your younger children. Experts have already noted the vast benefits that young and older generations interacting regularly together can bring about for all. There are actually many fun and practical ways to balance young kid and aging parent responsibilities that every family with these circumstances should consider.

Help Provide the Best Living Arrangement for Your Aging Parent

It is important for adult children worried about their aging parent to help provide the best living arrangement for them. Many will do wonderfully staying in their own homes by ensuring that they have the additional help that will be required. Others might need some companionship and less physical responsibilities and might do well moving in with an adult child and his/her family. There are other living arrangements today for seniors that includes senior living communities and residential care facilities like www.pegasusseniorliving.com able to provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment. It helps to have these conversations regarding current and future living arrangements with your senior parents and other involved family members sooner rather than at a later time. Wherever your senior parent resides, there are ways to connect your parent with your family members including your precious children.

Ways to Naturally Include Your Senior Parent in Family Activities

There are some easy ways to naturally include your senior parent in your normal family activities. Many children today learn how to use computers, video games and other technologies early in life. Most parents limit these activities when the kids are younger. However, there are some wonderful educational programs on a computerized format that can encourage learning and socialization skill development. Choose a fun video game that is simple enough for younger kids to join in yet challenging enough to engage the entire family.

Even your senior parent can get in on the riotous fun. Select a game that can be started and put down for the best results. This allows greater flexibility in finding a few moments throughout the busy days to take time out for an enjoyable activity. Younger children do best with shorter time increments, and some seniors with limited attention spans may also benefit from shorter sessions. The most important rule is to involve everyone and have uninhibited fun. Play as teams to assist younger or senior family members that lack the physical finger dexterity to use the controls.

Other Fantastic Ideas for Including Your Elder Family Member in Daily Routines

There are lots of ways that your elder family member can be included in your family’s daily routines. Have family cooking nights where your senior is the star top-chef. If he/she is unable to perform the physical tasks, have them supervise the operation. This can be adjusted to suit the needs and limitations of the various age groups and abilities.

Some other terrific ideas include:

 

• Reading a story – many seniors enjoy reading to their grandchildren

 

• Encourage family reminiscence sessions – your senior’s recollections regarding important family traditions, stories and details will be long remembered and cherished

 

• Watch a television show together

 

• Go out or stay in for family movie night with popcorn

 

• Take your senior on short errands

 

• Sit outside on porch/patio with senior while kids play

 

• Share music together – play instruments, sing songs or listen to favorite tunes

 

• Look through family pictures or watch home videos together

 

• Have craft projects for the whole family – many seniors and kids love creating things

 

Helpful Strategies to Teach Your Kids Respect for Elders

Sadly, many younger people seem to lack the respect for older people these days. Many mental health and behavioral specialists link this to children not having the same amount of positive interactions with older generations growing up that past generations of kids had. Encouraging your children to show respect to elders is easier when they have a positive relationship with older family members and good role models.