3 Ways To Help Your Children Deal With A Fear Of Elderly People

In the world of children, it’s very common to have fears about things that-as adults-we wouldn’t even consider being scary. One thing that often falls into this category is elderly people. 

For many children, being around elderly people, especially elderly people that they don’t know well or aren’t familiar with, can be very scary. But if you’re wanting your child to have a good relationship with the older people in your life or would like to visit an assisted living facility together as a form of community service, it will be helpful to assist your child in working through this fear.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to help your children deal with a fear of elderly people. 

Start With Getting To Know Their Own Grandparents

One of the best ways to start getting your kids more comfortable around elderly people is to begin with their relationship with their own grandparents. 

Whether you live close to their grandparents or not, having them see each other and speak together through video chatting can be a great ice breaker. This way, your child can see and interact with their grandparent to an extent without being in their physical presence. They can ask their grandparent questions to help them become more familiar with them and comfortable with speaking to them until they’re ready to see them in person. 

Stay Close To Them When They’re Around Elderly People

When you’re ready to have your child start physically interacting with the elderly people in their life, be it a grandparent or someone else, you should do what you can to help your child be comfortable during this first encounter. 

Ideally, you should stay close to them when they are first meeting or interacting with an elderly person, especially if they’ve expressed a fear of this person in the past. If you can, try holding your child or sitting them on your lap. Let them know that they can stay with you as long as they need and try not to push them past where you can tell they’re comfortable. 

Model Friendly Behavior

In some cases, children might learn fear from their parents. And, on the other side of that same coin, children can learn to overcome certain fears by modeling the behavior of their parents.

To leverage this opportunity, ensure that when you interact with the elderly, you demonstrate to your child how comfortable and enjoyable it is to get to know these individuals better. Displaying your ease may encourage your child to be braver and more comfortable in similar situations.

Also, it’s crucial to justify your actions regarding your parents, especially when explaining it to your children. For instance, if your parents are dealing with serious illness and you find yourself unable to provide the necessary care due to time constraints or geographical distance, you can send them to a reputed senior living. A renowned old age facility like Golden House Assisted Living offers various care types for your loved ones, which can help in facilitating a better quality of life for them.

When communicating this decision to your children, it’s essential to emphasize that the choice is driven by a desire to ensure your parents receive the care they require, especially in their older age. By explaining that you want to prevent your parents from struggling and that these facilities can offer them the support they need, you’re instilling in your children the value of caring for the elderly when they require assistance. This approach helps foster empathy and an understanding of the importance of making decisions that prioritize the well-being of family members.

Similaly, you can involve your children in helping around the house, doing chores, or assisting their grandparents with daily activities. These activities not only teach the importance of hard work but also instill the value of helping others and emphasize the significance of family.