At early ages, children develop attitudes about aging. A 1995 American Association of Retired Persons study, conducted in collaboration with the National Academy for Teaching and Learning about Aging, looked at attitudes toward aging of 423 students, aged 6 to 11. Children from two racially and socio-economically diverse schools in two states were asked to draw pictures of an old person and a young person, and then asked to explain their pictures.

Research Findings

Those who drew older persons they knew, like a grandparent, were more likely to portray the older person in positive ways. Children with generalized drawings of older persons they did not know often drew negative stereotypes associated with disabilities.

Boys tended to be more negative in their views than girls. Compared to girls, boys had fewer drawings of older persons with happy expressions and more with negative features. Boys expressed negative ideas about aging, with fewer positive images of themselves growing older.

Older children (aged 9, 10 and 11) were more negative about old age than younger children (aged 6 through 8). The older group were more likely to draw people they did not know.

Implications

The way children view old age can affect the way they view older adults today and the way they will view themselves as they age. It is important to address how these attitudes develop.

What can you do?

• Promote K-12 aging education.
• Encourage healthy lifestyle choices for longer, more productive living.
• Promote non-ageist children's literature in homes, schools, and libraries.
• Avoid age-prejudiced comments, such as "I'm getting old," to explain memory lapses and physical limitations.