The many young kids, being around older people can be a little intimidating and scary. Especially if the elderly people that they are around are sick or have the need for being in an assisted living facility, you may find that your kids are even more uncomfortable interacting with them. But if you want your kids to be comfortable and respectful around the elderly, there are things you can do to help achieve this.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to help your kids become more comfortable around the elderly.
Allow Them To Start Off Slow
As with doing anything new or going into any situation when your kids are uncomfortable at first, it’s best to allow them to start off slow.
Ideally, you should allow your kids to move further into a conversation or interaction with an elderly person at their own pace. You could have them sit away from the group or stand behind you while you interact with them. Then, as they get more used to the environment and the person or people that you’re interacting with, there’s a good chance that they’ll see how easy it is for you and want to give it a try themselves.
Encourage Them To Ask Questions
Kids almost always have a lot of questions about things, and when they see or interact with an elderly person it will be no different. However, your child might be too nervous to ask their questions, or they may have been told not to ask certain types of questions in the past to avoid being rude or disrespectful.
In order for your child to feel comfortable, they will likely need some more information about who the elderly person is that they are interacting with. So if you’re in a situation where you can speak together, it may be wise to encourage them to ask any questions they have to the elderly person they are with. While you might need to help facilitate the communication, especially if your child is soft-spoken, this can be a great way to break the ice.
Give Them Something To Do Together
Just wanting your kids to speak to an elderly person might not be the best course to take. Rather, you should try to give them something that they can do together. By doing this, there will be something to serve as a distraction so that all the attention isn’t on your child or on the elderly person. And if the task they are working on necessitates them working together, this can help them to quickly become comfortable around each other as they work toward a common goal.
If you’re wanting to help your children become more comfortable around older adults, consider using the tips mentioned above the next time your child interacts with the elderly.
