A Grandparents Guide to Understanding Their Millennial Grandkids

For many seniors today, one of the biggest challenges that they face is not learning to enjoy retirement or mastering estate planning, it is learning the language of their grandchildren. For so many grandparents of millennials, it seems as though these young individuals live on a different planet and in a whole different world. So many grandparents are looking for ways to better understand their grandkids and for information on ways to connect with this new generation. While there may always be an age gap, there are things that seniors can do in order to better understand their grandchildren.

Get in Touch With Social Media

If you want to connect with Millennial grandchildren, there is no better way than with social media. Here are the top social media sites every grandparent should know about:

• Facebook: You can post messages, create events, post pictures and videos and even follow businesses. This is the most popular social media platform in the world.
• Twitter: Twitter is all about what is happening nowhere you can post 150 character messages and pictures for the world to see.
• Instagram: Instagram is all about pictures, you can post captions with them, but this social media platform uses snapshots to communicate.
• Snapchat: Snapchat allows you to post pictures and videos and send them to friends on your phone. Each snapchat deletes automatically once the receiver has viewed it though, so you better make it memorable!

One of the great things about social media is that you can have your grandchild actually teach you the basics. It is a great bonding opportunity and a great excuse to do something together. Furthermore, once seniors are up and running with their social media accounts, they can stay in touch with their grandchildren, no matter where in the world they may be.

Once you log on to social media, you may be surprised to find just how many of your fellow seniors are also using the site. These platforms are a great way for seniors to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances from their past.

Ride in Style

Some of the most confusing terms that grandparents often hear uttered from their grandchild's mouth are words like "Uber" or "Lyft" with a "y." These words may seem foreign to most grandparents but seniors who take the time to learn what they mean may actually get a great deal out of understanding these terms.

Simply put, Uber is the new type of cab. Instead of calling or hailing a taxi, you can order an Uber right from your phone, the car will arrive in minutes and you can safely go to your next destination typically for a cheaper rate than most cabs will cost. You also don't even have to worry about cash, you just connect a bank account to your Uber account and the money is automatically deducted.

Sounds pretty neat, right?

The great thing about ride services such as Uber is they aren't just for Millennials. Sure, seniors can impress their grandkids by knowing what Uber is, but more than that, many seniors can also benefit from this type of service. Seniors are one of the fastest growing populations to start using ride sharing services such as Uber. This is because Uber provides a safe and convenient way for older adults who may no longer be able to drive, to get around with their own personal driver.

Get to Know Celebrities

Millennials grew up in the age of instant gratification and the wave of the internet. They are used to getting information the second they want it and staying up-to-date with everything going on around them. This includes, above all things, what is going on in the lives of celebrities. If you want to connect with Millennials, one of the best ways is to start reading up on celebrity gossip. It provides a great window into the world of what is going on with most Millennials today.

Pick up a few magazines at the grocery store, or try one of the celebrity gossip sites, it is not the most mind-enriching information, but it can be fun, and it can help you find new ways to chat with your grandkids about the latest gossip.

Try Your Hand at Technologies

There are so many seniors who find that technology is simply confusing. So confusing in fact that they won't even give it a try. You may be surprised that most technology today is meant to make life easier not more complicated, so try a new piece of technology, see how it can change the way you do things and most importantly see how it helps you better relate to your Millennial grandkids.

One of the most basic pieces to try is the iPad. It is a small handheld computer that lets you play games, surf the web and do a variety of other tasks, without taking up a great deal of space. If you are an active individual, try the FitBit, it is a great piece of technology that helps monitor your activity and your steps so you can make sure you are staying active all day long. You can even connect with your grandkids to see how active they are being. It is a great way to try your hand at a new piece of technology, and it can help you meet your exercise goals as well.

These are some simple, yet effective ways to start understanding your Millennial grandkids even more. These are not the only things that Millennials are about, but they are great easy topics to wet your feet with. Familiarize yourself with these topics and you can start striking up conversations with your grandchildren easier and find new ways to relate to them. Who knows, this may only be the beginning and your grandchildren may start to introduce you to even more Millennial-centered parts of the world. In time, they may even let you teach them a thing or two, as you start to find new common ground to connect on.