Tuesday, 17 November 2015

The Dangerous Book for Granddads



 ‘Granddads are there to help the grandchildren get into mischief they haven’t thought of yet!’ Gene Perret

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.



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