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'Nostalgia Trips' Can Make Weekend A
Lesson in Life Histories for Kids Foundation
for Grandparenting Offers Travel Tips Through Hampton Inn(R) Hotels
A recent survey shows that more than one-third of grandparents who
traveled last year vacationed with their grandchildren, providing
numerous opportunities for the 80 million seniors in the U.S. to connect
with the younger generation. Grandparenting expert Arthur Kornhaber,
M.D., president and founder of the Foundation for Grandparenting, has
teamed up with Hampton(R) hotels to assist in educating aging Americans
about "nostalgia trips," a new way of preserving history
through travel.
Nostalgia trips are vacations in which grandparents take their
grandchildren to places that were meaningful in their lives to share
their families' stories while creating new memories of their own.
Dr. Kornhaber recently returned from his own nostalgia trip with his 16
year-old grandson, Justin. One visit included an outing to the
sandlot where Kornhaber, at age 10, hit the winning home run for the
county school championship. Justin, now the keeper of the medal his
grandfather earned, has vowed to take his own grandchildren to the same
spot.
"Many children today are cut off from the rich history and
experience of their ancestors and are confined to a narrow historical
existence," said Dr. Kornhaber. "National Grandparent's
Day is an excellent opportunity for older adults to make a special effort
to share those memories with their grandchildren by literally taking them
for a walk down memory lane through nostalgia trips."
Hampton hotels and Dr. Kornhaber want to make sure these chances for
learning and strengthening family bonds are not missed. They offer
the following tips to assist seniors in creating meaningful, educational
and fun nostalgia trips with their grandchildren:
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Plan Ahead. Before a trip with grandkids, sort out
the memories, people and places you'd like to share, such as revisiting
your hometown, school or favorite childhood destination, and discuss the
details before leaving to build excitement. Take into consideration their age when planning.
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Treasure Chest. Start a
treasure chest to share important family memorabilia, photos and other
articles of personal value. For the trip, bring along the items
related to the places you plan to visit.
-
Back to the
Future. When revisiting a special place, make sure to point out how
it has changed (this is when old pictures come in handy). Make a
special effort to include pictures of yourself when you were your
grandchild's age. By doing this, you give your
grandkids perspective they can pass down to their children.
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Storytelling.
A nostalgia trip is a good time to share family stories, recipes, and
"secrets." Also, allow your grandchildren to
"see" their own parents as kids by telling stories of them
growing up.
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Slow Down and Be Flexible. It's the closeness, memories and
conversation that benefit your grandchild more than completing a taxing
agenda. Most often, the magic with your grandchild will happen when
you least expect it!
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Pack Your Pictures! Pack older
pictures taken with you in the place you plan to visit, and then take a
new photo with your grandchild in the same place. Showcase these
photos together.
-
Create New Memories. Take pictures,
shoot video or keep a journal throughout the trip to help create a
scrapbook of your journey through time. Or, if you have a computer
and digital camera, keep a daily record of your
trip and e-mail updates to other family members.
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Stay
Connected. Remember kids are kids, so talk to their parents about
any special needs that must be met. For younger children it is
important to maintain their normal schedule (meals, naps, etc.).
For older children, the reverse is true; you may have to ask them to keep
up with your schedule! Keep the child's parents updated on your
location and daily agenda.
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Quality Not Quantity. The trip can be done in a full-vacation or
one weekend at a time, selecting a special place or event to relive.
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Have Fun! Remember, fun is the most important part of any nostalgia
trip. Be cheerful, open, non-judgmental, and caring. Follow
these tips and you will have a great getaway where the child can do no
wrong.
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