Usually, younger generations are encouraged to learn from their elders. Seniors have a wealth of knowledge to share, whether through various daily activities like delicious cooking or vivid storytelling or through broader life lessons such as dealing with loss or avoiding regrets. However, relationships between people of different generations can mean that information is shared both ways. When spending time with the younger generation, many seniors learn something new themselves. Here are the top five things the older generation can learn from today’s youth:
Using technology to connect
With confusing social media websites and endless mobile device capabilities, it seems as though everything is turning electronic. One of the lessons seniors can learn from the youth surrounding them is how to use technology to better connect with friends and family.
How to play
As kids, we jumped at any opportunity to have fun and be silly. With time, we’re taught to sit still, mind our manners, and eventually, many people find themselves losing their spontaneity. There’s no need to take everything so seriously, and it’s okay to relax and play every now and then.
Open-mindedness
Kids are tolerant and open-minded people. Unfortunately, as we get older, we tend to become more set in both our ways and our ideas. While these new things might seem scary or difficult, kids teach us to keep an open mind and get excited to develop new skills or learn something new.
Appreciating the not so important moments
With phones, social media, cameras, and countless other tools, kids and young adults are able to record every single moment of their day. Seniors can learn from the younger generation to better appreciate the ordinary moments of the day and be more open to sharing moments, thoughts, or ideas with friends and family, no matter how trivial it might seem.
Being active
Unfortunately, many seniors lose this desire for movement as it starts to become difficult. Seniors can feel tired, sore, or unmotivated quickly, making them less likely to be active every day. There are fun ways to stay active, and the elderly need to maintain the activity level they did when they were younger, as far as possible.