Who You Calling Granny?

Posted October 26, 2007, 4:08 pm by Growing Bolder


Don't today's grandparents seem a lot younger than they used to be? With longer, healthier lifespans and a playful attitude, these are the not the blue-haireds we grew up with.

Even though today's grandparents are still just as likely to shower their grandkids with love, gifts and cookies, they're definitely doing it with more style. (Would you like a glass of Chocolate Silk with those cookies?)

And they're also forgoing the hand-me-downs and silver dollars in favor of fancy new gifts. Are you a toy company looking to market your product? Skip the parents. Collectively, grandparents spend a whopping $30 billion per year on toys, according to a recent AARP study. That works out to about $500 per grandchild.

But more important than the expensive gifts, today's children are witnessing a major shift in the way older Americans live. They're more likely to see their grandparents competing in a triathlon than playing bingo. The grandparents are providing a role model that we just didn't have growing up. We're showing the kids that a long, healthy life is not only possible, it's very likely.

So, grab your tots and teach them to tango or hit the tennis courts together. But also, don't be afraid to give their games a whirl. Nintendo says gamers over 50 is one of the fastest-growing markets for the company's Wii game system. Grandma is proving that not only does she have game, she's not afraid to kick a little butt.

To check out some Granny Gamers in action, click the the photo on the right to play the video.



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