second childhood

second childhood

1. A time in a person's life (especially an older person) when their mental capacity is reduced to that of a child, as due to disease or old age. After my grandfather suffered his second stroke, he really entered into a second childhood.
2. A period of rejuvenated or renewed interest in things that interest a child. Being a part of my son's life as he grows up has been like a second childhood for me, because seeing him experience the magic of the world has made me appreciate it again as well. Jerry's sort of been in his second childhood ever since he lost his job, as he's gotten back into model train building and video games.
See also: childhood, second
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

second childhood

The dotage of old age; also, childlike playfulness in an adult. For example, Grandpa needs full-time care, now that he's in his second childhood, or Since he retired and started learning to fly, he's been in his second childhood. Depending on the context, this term may allude either to such problems of old age as losing one's mental or physical capacities or to delighting in new pleasures in a childlike fashion. [c. 1900]
See also: childhood, second
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

second childhood

COMMON
1. An adult's second childhood is a period of time when they have fun and do things that children typically enjoy. My father was a model railway man. My mother passes this off as his second childhood.
2. An elderly person's second childhood is when their mind has become weak and they can no longer care for themselves. We were shocked by his rapid descent into a second childhood.
See also: childhood, second
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

second childhood

a state of childishness that sometimes occurs in old age.
See also: childhood, second
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a/your second ˈchildhood

a period in life, especially in old age, when you sometimes act like a child, forget things, etc: I have to feed her and dress her. She’s really in her second childhood.
See also: childhood, second
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a/your second childhood
  • babysit with (someone or something)
  • babysit for
  • babysit for (someone)
  • pearly
  • babysit
  • babysit (someone or something)
  • buttoned-up
  • afflict (one) with (someone or something)
  • afflict with
References in periodicals archive
Old-age is a second childhood. Hold those wrinkled hands in yours, speak a few words of compassion and restore that glee in the eyes of the elderly!
Off the Cuff: The circle of life
In their search for emancipation, for a second childhood, Syrians will suffer, but they will also struggle against suffering.
Breaking free in the great Syrian prison
Under the rubric of a title like Second Childhood, the reader might wonder what sort of return such a rebirth or rejuvenation entails, especially when the repeated impulse is to "stop becoming an adult," to shed the weight of "luggage from the twentieth century." Yet for the speakers in Howe's poems, the apparent chasm between childhood and adulthood implies that those gardens of innocence will never be fully recaptured: "I've lost my child at the bend where we parted.
Second Childhood
"I was the one who wanted to regress to some Eden, claim a second childhood by using May as my ticket."
Fall into the future
Damascus,(SANA) -- Activities of Second Childhood Festival for Raising Water Awareness started its activities here on Sunday.
Childhood Festival for Raising Water Awareness Kicks off
Hell, as an old guy I'm experiencing my second childhood, and with the market in the shitter and gold only good for looking at, I've chosen to invest in fun and guns.
Amazed
SECOND CHILDHOOD: This little girl is helping me switch on the Christmas lights in November 1969.
Doddy's mirthy memories; Ken Dodd tells ECHO arts editor Catherine Jones how he hopes his new book of photos will help spread a little happiness
The youngsters do learn faster but it certainly makes an ideal brain gym for those in their second childhood!
The bells will ring out for your pleasure
She said: "It's a new beginning for me and maybe it's a second childhood and I'm going to love every minute of it.
Women join the Chelsea pensioners
They have entered what we call their "second childhood".
THOUGHT for the DAY
She doesn't want to be there but her father, who is apparently experiencing a second childhood, has dragged her there.
Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa. Haters
Hadath is enjoying a second childhood at the age of eight after putting leg trouble behind him.
Lingfield: Smooch and Ahern floor odds-on favourite
Hannah has used Peter Pan influences in her outfit because she thought winning the lottery would be like having a second childhood, while Liana's ensemble includes a magician's cape with 3D multi-coloured stars.
The whole country will see our designs
His last ten years of slow decline were spent walled away in his beautiful garden, desultorily sipping local champagne and playing with a second childhood's vast army of model soldiers.
In Search of H. V. Morton
ACTOR John Forgeham is 62 and has just become a grandfather -but he admits he's going through his second childhood.
The Box: I feel like a child again