HOLDING ’EM BY FINGER, ON SCREEN
For there is no bigger support system than family, and more so in times of a pandemic when the warmth of loved ones means the world. A crucial part of this support system is grandparents. And to help them stay connected in the culture of social isolation, youngsters in Delhi-NCR are teaching the elderly the language of technology. On International Day of Families today, let’s take a look at their experiences.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS VIA VIDEO CALLING
The pandemic helped Ishani Gambhir, a working professional, revive her bond with her grandparents. “I remember calling up my nani to show her my quarantine baking skills, and teaching her how to video call. Now she loves to call everyone in the family, and whenever I get a call from her it just makes my day. Teaching her how to video call was one of the best things that came out of the pandemic! I see her eyes light up when she gets to connect with her grandchildren from the comfort of her home.”
‘TAUGHT HOW TO READ OR SEND MESSAGES’
We were always ready to answer any questions and do multiple demonstrations. JACQUELINE JOSEPH,
A Delhiite
Jacqueline Joseph, a Delhiite, let her grandparents take it slow as they learned new/ alien technology. “They should be allowed to practice every new step. For instance, texting is a great way to keep in touch with teenage grandchildren, so we taught them that first. We were always ready to answer any questions and do multiple demonstrations for them. We also avoided complex terms such as soft reset and data speeds,” she says.
AN INTRO WITH THE MAGICAL WORLD OF INTERNET
And Vanshika Rana, a student, says, “Amid the pandemic, I realised how precious my grandparents are and started spending more time with them instead of being on my phone all the time. I made momos for them, taught them how to use an oven and even showed them the magical world of the internet! Now they even stalk people on Facebook, play ludo and have their own music playlists! Teaching them all this also allowed me to see the cute selfies that they click.”