The Young and the Old: Bringing them together

The Young and the Old: Bringing them together

Dr P Vyasamoorthy

·       
My
grandson runs away the moment I call him

·       
My
granddaughter thinks I am a bore

·       
How will
I escape that oldie today?

·       
Pucca
Bore, Yaar, my grandma.

These are common
conversations heard among elders and kids. Kids feel that their grand parents
are to be shunned. Senior Citizens feel they should be treated with respect,
welcomed and be entertained with company and conversation; even it is just some
petty small talk. Boys would not listen, leave alone respect. Girls will
complain against grandpa or grandma to their mothers. What can be done to bring
about amicability, tolerance and love? How to bridge the generation gap? Let us
look at a few tips involving many sections of the society.

The best place to mould children and teach them to look at elders with
sympathy, care and love is the school.  Andrew
Shue, famous American film star, says: “I created an
organization [when I was in High School] to help senior citizens. How many high
school kids are out there helping senior citizens?” implying, not many.  As a part of “Moral Instruction”
classes children may be shown how to help senior citizens. The School may give away prizes for the best student who
cares for his grand parents. Local Senior Citizen Associations can institute
such prizes by funding the same. During the Annual Day of the School Children
may be encouraged to take a suitable pledge that all through their lives they
will be “senior friendly” and helpful. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides may be given
special exercises in helping old people: Helping them cross the road in a busy
junction, running small errands, accompanying them to the hospital, help them
get into buses etc. School Magazines may encourage small articles or stories
that talk of intergenerational gap and the importance of taking to elders
kindly.

Senior Citizens Associations and NGOs working for
seniors and Elders them selves can do a lot in bridging the generation gap.
Senior citizens Association can adopt a school. ‘Senior Citizens Forum’ in
Secunderabad, for instance has adopted a school where the parents are poor.
Whenever members of this Forum go on picnics or tours, some half a dozen kids
from the school are also taken along free of cost. This brings about
unimaginable benefits as it enhances the perception of senior citizens among
children, teachers and parents. Senior Citizens can engage the children in the
school by telling stories about culture, mythology, history etc. They can also
volunteer as teachers, supplementing regular teachers. As stories attract
children, this voluntary engagement is likely to improve relationships.
Indirectly they may pick up stories where kids are appreciated for caring about
their elders.

Many newspapers and magazines devote special
sections for school children. The Saturday Supplement of The Hindu – Young
World – is an example. Suitable stories about kids caring for elders may be
published. If they are written by children out of their own experience it is
all the more better.