What Life Lessons Can Seniors Teach their Grandkids?

Learning is definitely a two-way street when it comes to seniors and their grandparents. Indeed, across the US, savvy organizations are pairing younger and older citizens with a view to enabling them to learn from each other. Cyber Seniors, for instance, pairs up digital natives with older adults so that the latter can learn skills like checking emails and connecting up with others via Facebook and other platforms. The group was founded by two sisters who noticed that their grandma was lonely and wanted to teach her how to connect with others via social media. Seniors, too, have many lessons and skills to teach their grandchildren—some of which could literally make or break their future.

Financial Planning

If you are a senior and you have held a position in accountancy or administration, or you keep a ledger and enjoy keeping up to date with bank movements, taxes, and other financial matters, then there is plenty that you can teach younger generations. A 2015 study shows that one in five teens lacks a basic foundation for financial literacy, and 74% of teens simply do not feel confident about their financial education. Top financial skills to share with teens and older children include saving early; knowing key terms such as interest rates, salaries, and superannuation; and learning about how credit cards and loans work.

Adopting a Growth Mindset

People with fixed mindsets believe that abilities and intelligence are fixed, that the success of others is a threat, and that feedback and challenges are to be avoided. It is easy to see how having these beliefs can limit a child’s ability to grow, strive to do better, and commit themselves to school and extracurricular activities. As a senior, you probably know that life has its ups and downs, but also a plethora of surprises. Throughout your life, you will have picked up skills and abilities that you never knew you had. You can help your younger loved ones ‘reach for the stars’ by teaching them to adopt a growth mindset. The latter involves believing in the power of perseverance, understanding that with effort you can learn new skills, accepting criticism, having a desire to learn, and finding inspiration in the successes of others.

The Power of Mindfulness

The prevalence of technology and multitasking mean that often times, families and groups of friends can physically be together while their hearts and minds are worlds apart—perhaps focusing on what is on their smartphone. Mindfulness, or truly living the present moment, is a vital life skill that enables you to truly live and enjoy your loved ones to the full. Mindfulness can be enhanced through meditation, spending time in nature, and simply placing technology aside and taking time to talk with one another and find out each other’s dreams, hopes, worries, desires, and greatest passions in life.

Younger and older people have treasures that they can share with each other. Seniors can enhance the lives of their younger loved ones by teaching them skills like financial literacy. They can also encourage kids to have a growth mindset and to enjoy the beauty of living ‘in the here and now’.