'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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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!

• 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. 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.