December and January are characterized not only by cold weather, but they are also months that are full of nostalgia, family togetherness and romance. During these times we remember when we were little, when our families would gather at Christmas to have dinner, open presents and have fun with our loved ones.

If we get nostalgic, imagine how our senior family members feel: remembering their childhood, their youth, how times have changed, when they created their family, when their children had children, and if now their grandchildren also have children. It is a wave of memories that we can enjoy with them by their side.

Therefore, during these dates, we recommend that you spend as much time as possible with the older members of the family. Remember that spending quality time with them is also a way to take care of them and express how much we love them. So here are some simple activities that you can do with your beloved grandparents:

1. Take out the photo album. Our older family members probably have a few photo albums stored away somewhere. Ask them to show you the photos and tell you what happened when they took them, if they still remember. Even if they don’t, they’ll surely come up with some funny story that will make you enjoy the moment.

2. Pick a movie. Ask your lovely senior what their favorite movie was and try to find it on a streaming service. Watch it together and let them tell you stories about what it was like the first time they saw it, who their favorite actor was, or if anything similar to the plot of the movie ever happened to them.

3. Snack time. It’s very common, especially for our grandmothers, that they like to cook and have family recipes that are delicious; so don’t be shy about asking them about one and together, start cooking some of those delicious desserts or meals.

4. Drawing, painting and puzzles. Take the opportunity to paint a landscape, draw a city or put together a puzzle with your grandparents. It is a way to spend time together doing something calm, and there will be no shortage of conversation. There will always be some funny or interesting story that you can tell us while spending quality time with them.

5. A short walk. Invite your lovely senior member to go out for a walk for a while. Go shopping or have a dessert. This will not only give you quality time with them, it will also help them get some exercise and keep their bodies mobile. Don’t forget to dress warmly as the weather at this time of year can be quite cold.

Remember that our grandparents’ minds are full of wonderful memories and stories from the times when they were young. They had a very different life than the way we live now and the world was not the same as we live in these times. Let them tell you their stories, let them tell you about the city where they were born, their hobbies when they were young, what places they liked to visit. Above all, during these dates when we see families united everywhere, we must not neglect them. They have always been there for us and we must also be there for them.

And if our dear older adults do not live nearby, what more than a short trip to visit them and do all the activities we mentioned. It is even important to visit them if they are in a nursing home or retirement home, since, during these dates, relatives tend to visit them more and if they see that the other residents are being visited by their relatives, they may feel sad for not having the same attention. All we want is for them to be happy.

Spending time with our older family members will help us not only make them feel loved, spend quality time with them, take care of them, protect them, but it will also help us learn a little more about our family, about where we come from, about the way we were raised. Talking to our older adults gives us lessons about life and love, and we can learn great and surprising stories about the life they have had and the things they have experienced. We can have a broader perception of our family, the world, and the difference between life now and life before.

Let’s spend more time with our older adults, let them know how much we love and care for them.