Making It Merry Getting Through Christmas Day

Little Things You Do On The Big Day Can Make It Easier

Owning the holiday your way

We’re now well and truly in the thick of Christmas – every hall is decked and, in many cases, every nerve frayed! If what we’re shown on telly is to be believed, this should be the happiest time of the year – but what if it’s not? What if it’s actually the time when we feel the loneliest? In this third and final part of our series, we look at a few more of the factors that contribute to loneliness at Christmas and how we can alleviate those situations. Plus, what do you do on the “happiest day of the year” if you’re on your own?

As we’ve outlined in earlier issues, loneliness can have a hugely detrimental effect on our health – and, unfortunately, the elderly can be particularly susceptible.

We can spend a lot of time talking about the benefits of social interaction for the elderly – particularly those when they’re paired up with a child – but the truth is, it isn’t just the elderly who benefit from those interactions as they can have profoundly positive impacts on the children too!

Louise Rees from Age Concern says it’s certainly not a one-way street. “We talk a lot about the elderly being alone and needing help, but we need to talk about the flipside of the situation too. There are real social and developmental benefits to children who have interactions with grandparents or older people.

“Yes, it is lovely for the elderly to spend time with young children, and they do delight in seeing kids smile, but those interactions also grow compassion in children.”

A 2016 study by Stanford University found that interaction between the young and old cultivates a sense of purpose and extends benefits both ways. Underprivileged children reaped the greatest benefits – learning essential emotional skills to succeed in life.