Kids and Seniors: A Win-Win For All!

dstricoff February 8th, 2010, 1:41 PM
Debbie Stricoff, Dir., Adult Day Care Services
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flowers2We love intergenerational activities at the center. It’s so great to see the joy on the seniors faces when the kids come! Many of our seniors don’t get a chance to spend time with children and it really lifts their spirits. It also exposes the kids to seniors and teaches them to be comfortable around a population with a variety of physical and cognitive impairments. Over the years, we’ve had many elementary and high school age children visit, and they’ve participated in wonderful art projects, discussions, games and talent shows.

For the past three years, we’ve been lucky to have Girl Scout Troop 1986

claypot

Heart of the Hudson come to our center. It’s been great to watch them grow over the years and on Friday they were here to work on getting their silver award in horticulture. The kids made clay pots and planted bulbs with the seniors in our dementia program. Everyone was thrilled to take home a plant to care for. They also did silk flower arranging with the seniors in our frail program. In the afternoon, they performed in a talent show, and they made placemats out of dried flowers for bingo prizes. They definitely brightened up the center and brought a smile to all of our faces!

Posted in: Children and Teens, Senior Citizens   Tags: ,

Discussion

  • As one of the leaders of the Girl Scout Troop 1986 (13-14 year olds), I can say that it is a win-win situation. My girls have grown over the past three years in learning how to give of themselves and how important interaction is with our senior population. It is a trip that they look forward to making all year.

    As they have grown so have their ideas and their impressions of an aging society. They have gained confidence in themselves by being able to get up in front of a large group and speak, perform and interact. These are life skills that they can continue to build upon as they develop into our next generation.

    My husband will soon be bringing our son’s cub scouts (6-7 year olds) to the center to teach the seniors some tricks on the Wii game sysmtem and other games too but the most important thing is the seniors to teach the boys that giving of your time is priceless.

    To more memories that will last a life time for our children……

    — Sherri Zabko  /  March 1st, 2010 at 3:00 pm

  • Thanks for the great comments Sherri. The experience is invaluable for our seniors and helps to form life long impressions for your Girl Scout Troop. We look forward to the Cub Scouts coming!

    — Debbie Stricoff  /  March 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm

  • As one of the girl scouts in troop 1986, I enjoy being with the seniors. I look forward to entertaining, interacting and hanging out with them. I have been to the center for years and look forward to seeing similar faces and making new friends. Thank you Debbie for allowing this to happen. Victoria

    — Victoria  /  March 21st, 2010 at 9:55 am

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