• Howick and Pakuranga Times
Year five and six students at Owairoa School in Howick had a special lesson with grandparents Mary and David Dalton during Age Concern’s campaign to stop elder abuse in the community.
The Daltons’ grand-daughter Kaitlyn invited the guests to her classroom to help her friends learn more about how both age groups can help each other.
Brenda Strathern and Nuikini Hendriske, of Age Concern Counties Manukau, got the ball rolling and encouraged students to talk about older people they know.
Children shared stories about the oldest person they know, names they have for grandparents, and special names they are called by older relatives.
They discussed exciting experiences their grandparents tell them about, such as escaping from volcanic eruptions.
Of course, baking with nana and eating the goodies were popular activities many children enjoyed.
Mr and Mrs Dalton explained that the younger generation can help older folk by keeping them up to speed with technology, and by taking time to talk with them.
Many of the students were enthusiastic about helping older people cross the road and carrying their groceries.
After chatting, the children wrote a story about generations helping each other, with the aim of being the one story chosen to go through to a regional final.
Georgia Lang’s story was selected by 90-year-old Age Concern Counties Manukau board member Jerry Green. Her story reflected genuine warmth about her relationship with her grandmother.
“In the end it was Georgia’s story that was chosen because she covered so nicely both aspects of the title ‘how do young and old help each other?’” she says.
“She also demonstrated a good sense of humour and related a funny incident I hope she remembers as an adult.”
