Hello !
My father has had PD for 15 years and from far I remembered I have always taken care of him when he has needed it and I have been old enough! Anyway my father is a very loving daddy and grandpa and my two sons love him very much. They are always happy when we go see him or he comes at home.
My father is a very very kind, sweet, patient and calm person with everyone, especially with my children.
They are two and four. Of course they can’t do many things with my dad’s disease and sometimes he suffers of that because he thinks he is not good enough for them... but of course he is!
So my question would what could they do with him and what activities wouldn’t be physical or tiring for him (and maybe a little bit original too ;) !
Thanks a lot for your help!
May
I used to have friends do this to see if they could trick me (they couldn't!). For small children, this will seem like a magic trick!
Thanks for all your answers ! All the ideas are lovely and the one of the coloring books is my favorite. I am sorry that I am not able to answer to each of you right now. Maybe you know it if you have read my last post in my question « How to soothe and reassure a PD patient ? » but he is at the hospital and he has an aspiration pneumonia related to PD. But I am sure he will be delighted to have all this new ideas as soon as he is able to get out from the hospital, normally in a month. And when I have the time I will answer you !
A huge thanks to all your lovely ideas !
Mary 😊
Reading a story to them or telling them his own stories.
Going through old family pictures.
Coloring, playing music using all kinds of kids instruments, singing, doing puzzles, painting especially face painting where the little ones get to face paint their Grand Pa.
Playing or just watching them play, as kids love having someone watch them do things, even just being silly.
Watching a movie together and eating pop corn.
Setting up little cowboy and Indians or army figure toys, dinosaurs, ect.
Have kid music on and let the kidos do a little jig for Grand Pa.
Having a Pic Nic in the house or back yard.
Prayers
Telling them stories about himself as a little boy, or his parents’ anecdotes... esp. some naughty things he might have done, like taking a sibling’s toy, &c. Giggling is good
If your Dad is getting any physical or occupational therapy for PD, go along (if this is permissible) or contact his therapists for ideas. Something as simple as rolling a ball or painting pottery (think Jackson Pollock, not Michelangelo) may be helpful for maintaining his motor skills. Simple video games may help your dad as well (I was instructed by a therapist to buy video games for my dad).
Reading, cooking, dancing. Singing songs from his youth.
There are so many “sharing activities” that may bring both generations joy. I’m sure your kids are a welcome distraction from his disease.
Mary
Children I know like to be active, and respond to music. Perhaps they can make up some dances with Grandpa and frolick, while he remains relatively constant b/c of his PD (depending on how it affects him). Or perhaps he can just encourage them.
The youngest couldn’t play to the dominoes but I think older one is old enough to understand the game. Actually he can hardly walk so dancing will not be that easy but of course he can encourage them, he already does 😉 !
Thanks,
Mary
He can kick a large soft rubber ball back and forth to them while sitting on a chair (or he can be a "goal tender" using a broom).
Some very young kid's board games can be fun and easy, like Don't Wake Daddy, which just has the players pick a card that tells them how many times to press a button. The button controls whether the "sleeping daddy" will spring up out of bed. My kids thought this game was hilarious.
Give them pots and pans and wooden sticks and have them "make music" (or give them actual kid's musical instruments and your dad can be the drummer or conductor).
Etc. It's such a sweet thought to picture them playing together!
Or just have them sit on his lap as he reads them their favorite stories.(the 4 year old can hold the books for him.)
Or even putting simple puzzles together could be fun. Your father could show them where the pieces go, and they could put them in.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. At this stage in all their lives, it's just most important that they get to spend time with the grandpa that they love so much, even if it's just sitting on his lap, with him making up silly stories to tell them. Best wishes to you all.
Thanks for your quick answer ! Indeed I totally get the points in your ideas are very good. In fact he already tell them stories but yes I had never thought about painting or coloring books before ! So thanks for everything and have a nice day !
xxx
Mary