Sunday, October 28, 2012

Benefits of Including Grandparents in Trick or Treating-Guest Post


Halloween is a time of year that can be a lot of fun not just for children, but for entire families. Many children go trick or treating with their parents, but this is a good time for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren and participate in holiday fun with them.

Including Grandparents Makes Halloween a Family Event
Many grandparents don't have the opportunity to see their grandchildren as often as they would like. Whether it's because of limited mobility or busy schedules, grandparents often feel as if they are missing out on getting to know their grandchildren as they grow up.

By including grandparents in trick-or-treating, families give them a unique opportunity to bond with their grandchildren. Grandparents can participate in helping the children get into costume and going around the neighborhood with them, giving them the opportunity to learn about their grandchildren's favorite television or movie characters and sharing the excitement and fun of Halloween with them.

Including Grandparents Can Help Put Their Minds at Ease
Grandparents sometimes worry about their grandchildren's safety at Halloween, especially if their children are more permissive at Halloween than they were when they were the parents. Including grandparents in trick or treating can help calm their anxiety and reduce tensions between grandparents and parents during this time of year.

By trick or treating with the children, grandparents can help ensure their safety. In addition, they can see exactly what's going on so that they don't have to sit at home worrying about their grandchildren's safety all night.

Including Grandparents Gets Them Out of the House
Many senior citizens have limited mobility or don't get out of the house as often as they need to for other reasons. By taking them on a trick-or-treating expedition, their children and grandchildren can give them the opportunity to get out of the house and have some fun.

Including grandparents who have limited mobility also teaches children important lessons about how to treat other people. Children who have to walk more slowly, stay where their grandparents can see them or share their candy with their grandparents learn about respecting older people and people with disabilities as well as giving the gift of time to those who can't easily get out of the house on their own.

Including Grandparents Allows Them To Avoid the Doorbell
Some grandparents dislike Halloween because they don't want to deal with trick-or-treaters. Senior citizens are sometimes vulnerable to vandalism, theft and other crime that older trick-or-treaters may engage in on this holiday; some are nervous about opening the door or find the constant ringing of the doorbell annoying. By taking them trick or treating, they can be part of the fun of the holiday instead of having a miserable evening at home wishing the doorbell wouldn't ring.

Halloween is a holiday that is often fun for children and depressing or anxiety-provoking for senior citizens. By including grandparents in trick-or-treating, you can help them have fun on this holiday too as well as helping them form stronger bonds with their grandchildren.

Author Bio
Sandy is an Assisted Living Advocate who writes on a variety of ways for seniors to stay active and involved in their families lives. 

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