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Back-to-School Part II How the Elderly Can Help With Homework



If you are a full time caregiver and a parent of younger children, you may find evenings to be overwhelming. Especially when it comes time to help out with homework.

The great news is, this is something your elderly loved one can do, too. Not only can it give you a little extra time to hop in a shower or tackle a task that's been waiting all day--it is a wonderful bonding opportunity for children and their grandparent/great-grandparents.

When the elderly move in with their children or grandchildren, they often suffer depression if  they no longer feel as useful as when they were younger and independent. Perhaps a physical ailment keeps them from assisting with chores now, or another condition makes it difficult for them to pay their own bills, drive, or care for themselves.

Lending a helping hand at history or math can be a great way to help the elderly feel useful. Plus, when they are using their thinking skills, they are battling dementia.

Set Up A Work Area


To help make homework time easier for everyone, have a designated area where kids and the elderly can sit comfortably. Make sure it is easy for two or more people to sit at the table or desk. Provide good lighting.

Keep all supplies that are used frequently (scratch paper, calculator, ruler, note cards, pens and pencils, high-lighter pens, etc.) nearby. This will save time. You might also include a strong magnifying glass for those who have problems reading small text.

Color coded bins labeled with large letters and numbers can make it easier for everyone to find what they need. It also serves as a reminder to put things back up when the session is over.

Join In


Although it is a great idea to use a few minutes of this time to do something for yourself, try to join in as often as possible too. You can supervise, join in discussions, keep everyone on topic, help create notecards or posters, etc. You will be exercising your brain too.

While Grandma or Grandpa is helping color a worksheet, solve a puzzle, or hold up flashcards, you can search online for free printable worksheets. Print these ahead for the week for younger children, or as needed to supplement homework brought in by older children.

Delegate 

Depending on the age of your elder, or their level of education, you may have to delegate certain homework help to them. For example, they may not be familiar with certain subjects that were not required when they were in high school. 

Here are some homework tasks that are fun and easy to help out with: 

  • Flashcards--Great even for elders with disabilities. Even older children can benefit from flash cards. Just make cards appropriate for the age and subject. 
  • Maps and Geography--Especially fun if there are first-hand stories about those places. 
  • History--Again, first hand experience can be very helpful. 
  • Counting
  • Money Skills
  • Telling Time
  • Spelling Words
  • Vocabulary
  • Colors and Shapes
  • Math
  • Trivia Quizzes


Use Special SkillsTo Help With Visualization


Did Grandpa love woodworking? Provide materials for a small project (if safe and possible). It is much easier to learn angles, measurements and basic math when seeing these numbers put to use. The same goes for fractions in the kitchen.

If Grandma was a master gardener, maybe she can pitch in on biology lessons. It is easy to turn a person's hobbies into a learning experience.

Careers can also be used to help. What did your elders do? All of the skills they used on the job can be used now to help with homework. There are also valuable life skills to be tapped. Gramma worked as a bank teller? She can help with money counting, and skills such as balancing a check book.

Grandpa was an electrician? There is a science lesson just waiting to happen!


Live and Learn Together

Keeping it all together when an elder comes to stay can be hard for everyone. There is a lot of adjustment. For kids, it can be like suddenly having a new sibling that takes up most of mom and dad's time. By finding simple ways for elders to take part in family activities, without having to plan and schedule new events specifically for them, you can help keep things on track. And of course, having that extra set of hands can really help you, the caregiver, out at the end of a busy day!

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