Enrich Your Time With The Young
By kathy77
@kathy77 (7485)
Australia
February 23, 2007 10:24am CST
Enrich the lives of young and old alike, by bringing them together. The elderly, just like you and I, have a desire to feel needed and there are little children everywhere who need attention. A wonderful solution is to invite local children over to visit the elderly for story-time, a game of checkers, and perhaps an easy craft such as rubber stamped notecards. Residential homes could contact schools in the area to let parents know of this special service, and if the response is great, they may have to schedule each child's visit. Children blossom when given unhurried attention, and the elderly blossom too when they see the happy faces of the children who love to come and visit them. During school hours, the residents can look through children's books to choose ones they would like to read aloud (children's books are very inexpensive when purchased used), prepare supplies for card-making (local businesses will donate paper by the reams when told of this project), and perhaps write notes themselves to their young friends. I can't think of a better way for these special people to feel needed, appreciated, useful, and occupied. The time they will spend with these children will enrich the lives of young and old alike, and very little money needs to be spent in the process.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@weemam (13372)
•
23 Feb 07
This is such a lovely idea , when my aunt was in the home the kids used yo visit her ( my grandchildren ) and she loved it , she used to tell them stories about when she was young and the things she got up to ( they loved it as well , My grandchildren are getting older now but they still love to go through my old pictures and make a full of the way we used to dress ( in the old days) as they put it , yes good fun my friend for young and old xx
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
23 Feb 07
We do that in our area, there are several retirement homes in the area and they even have a van that picks the "more mature" people up and take them to the schools. They will sit with children who are having trouble reading and help them, they do story times, and they get involved in class parties and such. The young ones do the same in reverse, parents usually drive groups but they will go to the homes and sing songs, do crafts, or just take things they've made in school. Both are great ways for the two generations to connect and both gain greatly from the experience.
@maribel1218 (3084)
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
That was really a great time to established relationship with new generation and the elderly.
On a congregation that I was a member for almost 20 years we help some streetchildren to have a sunday school and every month we guide them to a elderly home to have time with them both specially the elders who have no relatives to spend a lonely afternoon.
That was very touching moment that I wished sometimes it will not end sometimes our schedules varies we spend with the prisoner or sometimes with other orphans and that made some lonely souls happy that eventhough they are in that place some youth remember to be with them to spend a good day.
1 person likes this
