RHE Media is proud to announce the
publication of The Dangerous Book forGranddads by J.C. Jeremy Hobson.
Jeremy Hobson offers granddads 86 ideas for
getting into mischief with the grandchildren based on:
- pastimes that they had when they were a child;
- skills that granddads and the grandchildren can learn together;
- activities where the grandchildren can teach granddad a thing or two!
Becoming a granddad doesn’t automatically
mean you will gain all the expertise necessary to enjoy adventures with your
grandchildren overnight. For most, it’s a case of identifying the basic
techniques and subsequently learning together. The main thing is - ‘just do it’.
Hopefully, The Dangerous Book for Granddads will provide inspiration, stimulation – and may possibly also
cause perspiration!
This fully illustrated scrapbook includes
many images to remind you of childhood escapades and exploits. Full of
practical advice (and a few danger warnings), this guide for granddads will
have you leaping from your armchair to plan some daring deeds!
Sadly, there is much in the current media
about how today’s children prefer to play computer games rather than
participate in the kind of activities so enjoyed by their parents and
grand-parents. Without the encouragement to climb trees, kick through autumn
leaves, collect bugs and paddle about in ditches and streams, the psychologists
worry that future generations will succumb to ‘epidemic obesity,
attention-deficit disorder, isolation and childhood depression.’
Parents busy with work often rely on active
retired grandparents to help with child care at the end of the school day,
weekends and during school holidays. Not only are people living longer, they are
thinking ‘younger’ and the modern attitude of mind is that all things are
possible. I’m sure that, as I enter my sixth decade, I don’t think or act like
grandparents would have done two or three generations ago… today’s maxim must
surely be ‘You’re never too old’!Therefore, grandparents are often ideally placed to encourage youngsters to get active - and what is good for children is also good for granddad!
RHE Media’s mission statement is ‘Adding
Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years’ – this mission is at the heart of
all we publish, although we realise this goal in different ways. The Dangerous Book for Granddads
exemplifies our mission and the book is also closely connected with the Five
Ways to Wellbeing as described by the New Economics Foundation (for more
information see our blog post of 15 January this year - http://www.wordstothewise.co.uk/blog/how-to-boost-wellbeing-through-hobbies-and-activities These five ways:
- Connect;
- Be Active;
- Take Notice;
- Learn, and
- Give …
can all be found in the 86 activities in The Dangerous Book for Granddads – not overtly
(this certainly isn’t a boring old textbook!) but through having fun with
grandchildren. The book actively encourages granddads to have a second
childhood by revisiting the fun they had in their youth, passing on skills that
they learned as boys and engaging with the things that today’s children enjoy.
As Jeremy says in his Preface to the book,
It can be a long time before one realises where the
true lessons of life are learnt. DNA and genetics are all well and good, but
despite having all that flowing through your veins, you still need an
enthusiastic teacher and, regardless of his aura to others, Granddad was mine.
Without him I doubt that I would be anything like the person I am today and
would most certainly not have much of the knowledge I’m fortunate enough to
possess.
