It is not uncommon for senior citizens to feel out of touch with older grandchildren including teens and young adults. Books can be a great way to connect by buying them a gift which reflects values and/or shows awareness of their interests. These books can provide an interesting read for adult friends and family too.
Gifts for Seniors to Give to Adult Loved Ones
Sometimes a gift certificate to a favorite bookstore is appropriate. When possible, actually take them to the bookstore while visiting about their favorite authors, listening deeply as they share their interests. Having lunch together afterward can add a nice touch. This can cement the bonding of the relationship as well as give the grandparent hints for future gifts and excursions.
Books Seniors Can Use as Gifts for Adult or Older Grandchildren
There are several books which have proven to be winners with a number of today's youth.
Peace is a topic many talk about these days:
- Christmas in the Trenches uses a setting of war to make a case for peace, and is a great book for older children and adults at any time of year.
- Peacemaking Circles and Urban Youth presents a non-traditional way of viewing the peace process.
- Seniors can foster peace in their own lives by applying concepts of peacemaking circles mentioned above to their own situations.
Life's challenges and issues, especially related to the economy, is on the mind of numerous young people:
- What to Do When Your Family Loses Its Home presents ideas for consideration by friends of such families as well as the actual family members.
Grief and Acceptance of Change are often not talked about, yet must be faced on a regular basis by both youth and adults:
- The Heart and the Bottle is a sensitive portrayal of the journey of grief as it affects several generations.
- Who Moved My Cheese looks at the concept of accepting and dealing with change.
Issues of Modern Society get a closer look with research-based findings and evaluations:
- Made to Stick helps young people and adults understand why some ideas take hold and others don't.
- Then the gripping concepts in The Paradox of Choice are worth reading more than once to help in understanding and coping with the angst among people of modern society.
Books for children are often just as helpful to youth and adults.
- Some children's books can be used in reading to children, yet may be just as instructive in older years.
The Value of Seniors Giving Books as Gifts
When discussing one's desired legacy with older adults, it is often not the things but the ideas that seniors wish they could share with future generations. Books are an effective way of doing just that. Elderly people who wish to share concepts, dreams, and hopes with their adult children or grandchildren may find it helpful to buy their loved ones books as gifts. Writing a personal dedication in the front may encourage a more careful reading.
Older adults may find themselves in a quandary about what gift to buy older grandchildren or their adult children or friends. Books are a great gift for seniors to buy for birthday, Christmas, or any occasion involving gift-giving. When seniors give the gift of a book, they can share their hopes and dreams for the future generations with books about life's challenges, grief and acceptance of change, current issues, peace, and even book ideas for children which may apply also to adults. Whether it be for older grandchildren or adult children or friends, there can be great value realized when older adults give books as gifts to the adults in their lives!
Hildra Tague - Mrs. Hildra Tague is a freelance writer, consultant, and teacher dedicated to issues of education and parenting. This all started when she ...
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