For about an hour last week, a unique posse patrolled the colorful halls of in Parker. Its mission: Dole out compliments, rock babies to sleep and otherwise brighten the already bright space.
That posse was five women from , just a few miles west of the child care center off Lincoln Avenue.
Their stop at The Meadows Wednesday, March 15 was the second time this year Lincoln Meadows residents spent time with the infants, toddlers and preschoolers there. The budding program started late last year when The Meadows owner Katie McDonald, a 20-year early childhood education veteran, reached out to her center’s similarly named senior living counterpart to suggest it as a means to enrich lives of both the children and the seniors.
“Growing up, my relationship with my grandmother was fundamental to me,” McDonald said. “Nowadays, people are all spread out that a lot of kids don’t see their grandparents as much. I want all kids to have that connection with a generation that can be involved and teach them so much.”
Last week, the seniors spent time in a preschool classroom where the kids were learning about the letter “K” and coloring kites. The women passed along different colored crayons and applauded the kids’ work. After a visit in January, the February session was canceled because of a nasty flu season. Meadows kids gave their senior friends a stack of “get well soon” cards before they left. The seniors also spent time in one of the center’s infant rooms, taking turns in a rocking chair with babies.
Spending time with oodles of kids is nothing new for Lincoln Meadows resident Ann Blakeley. The 98-year-old has 10 grandkids and 26 great-grandkids. She first visited The Meadows last week.
“I love kids. This is something to do and itap fun,” she said of the program. “Our time is going, and itap just so nice to see all the wonderful young ones and the people who take care of them.”
Carrie Schneider is Lincoln Meadows’ director of fun. She said multi-generational programming is an important part of the community of roughly 240 residents’ enrichment offerings. She said there are at least eight ongoing programs focused on senior-youth interaction including “silver speakers” where residents visit local elementary schools and read to kids.
“All people who work with this generation know the things that make their faces light up. It’s definitely kids, animals and music,” Schneider said. “Most of them are moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and thatap some of the happiest times in their lives. They know itap important for kids to interact with their elders.”
Schneider knew there was one Lincoln Meadows resident who she could count on to embrace The Meadows visits and enlist some other residents. Tillie McMillan, 91, has been part of both visits and is an ambassador for the program among other seniors. The retired elementary school secretary said her favorite part of her job was always the times she was able to comfort upset kids.
“It gives me hope for the future to see these beautiful kids. These kids are so enthused,” McMillan said after letting some of the preschoolers try on her necklace. “They’re just so loving. I love to hug kids. Little children need to be shown they are loved and cared for.”
The program fits with McDonald’s vision for her growing center, which opened in August and has capacity to double in size beyond the 72 children it looks after now. She said the first session was a huge success and the kids, including her young son, talked about it for days afterward.
“I wanted more of a focus on the social and emotional and teaching kids to be little people,” she said of founding The Meadows. “So much of the focus these days is on academics. I wanted to focus on empathy, respect and understanding.”