AARP Eye Center
It doesn’t matter whether or not you are a gifted musician or singer. A recent AARP Virginia webinar urged grandparents to share any musical interest, knowledge or skills they possess with their grandchildren as a way to boost bonds between the generations — while providing health and cognitive benefits as we grow older.
Music Therapist Karina Espinal shared many suggestions during the one-hour “Dynamic Grandparenting: Musical Connections” presentation, including one to create playlists to share with grandchildren.
“When I think of creating a playlist, I think creating songs grandparents would love to show their grandkids, things they loved when they were younger, songs you want to share with your family. I think that’s a great way to bond and know each other.”
Other suggestions she offered included playing any instrument you can for or with family members, having instruments around the house for use anytime grandchildren visit, attending library concerts with them and when they get older, moving up to larger-scale musical performances. Espinal also recommended taking interest in a grandchild’s own development in learning to play a musical instrument — and even taking one up yourself. She said ukuleles, autoharps and “boomwhackers” are all relatively easy to learn.
As for the benefits, Espinal said along with tightening family bonds and creating memories, there are health advantages.
“It is a form of stress relief”, she said. “Singing can lower the heart rate, lower the blood pressure and reduce the stress hormones.” And she said music offers advantages for grandparents either hoping to avoid or coping with cognitive decline.
“Music can improve your health, your well-being. It can be a positive component to brain health as we age. Music improves memory and cognition. For people with dementia or Alzheimer's, music can often help them remember people, events, bring back specific memories.”
AARP Virginia Associate State Director Brian Jacks says this latest installment in the “Dynamic Grandparenting” series serves an important AARP goal.
“AARP Virginia works to strengthen connection within families and this webinar demonstrated musical strategies which resonated with many of the viewers. It was exciting to hear from grandparents who regularly include music during focused time with their grandchildren. Healthy aging involves multiple aspects of enjoyment and music is a category about which many care deeply”.
Perhaps just as importantly, if such an effort is to succeed, it should not be a chore, and Espinal says you don’t have to worry about that.
“Playing music has an immediate reward. Music is fun, it’s a blast.”
View upcoming dates in the "Dynamic Grandparenting" series and register to attend:
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