Better Together
A hallmark belief of All Seasons Preschool is that “the quality of our lives is enhanced when all generations live and work together.” It is a core component of our program, and we work hard to make it so. The preschoolers visit the seniors every day: they go to Memory Care, they make random or scheduled apartment visits, and special classroom grandmas or grandpas regularly come down to the school to read books or do activities. The daily effect of these points of contact might seem small, initially, but over the year they grow into vitally important components of our program.
There are a few moments you can count on seeing how much the relationships have developed between the preschoolers and the seniors: graduation, time spent in Memory Care by the end of the year, and perhaps my favorite times, the preschool Open Houses. The preschool opens its doors to all the seniors twice a year, once in the spring, and once in the fall.
There is something truly remarkable about the energy created when multiple seniors come to visit the preschoolers on their own territory at the Open House. The children have more confidence and comfort - this is their space, after all! - and as the experts, they gleefully show the seniors around, introduce them to their favorite toys, and ask, without much hesitation, for them to read a book on the sofa. The energy the seniors bring with them is pure enthusiasm. They come prepared to ‘oooh’ and ‘aaaah’ over the children, the classrooms, the activities, and the trinkets, art projects, and playdough creations the preschoolers bring them. It is a special thing, and it serves both populations beautifully. The seniors get to come to a new place, different from their day-to-day activities, and be smothered with love and attention. Likewise, the children are the stars of the show, and love to be the most knowledgeable person in the room (a situation preschoolers don’t often find themselves in!).
The magic of Open House days also lies in sheer numbers. It’s quite different to have multiple seniors down to our school than it is when a single senior comes. They, like the preschoolers, are often more at ease and comfortable, plus the safety provided by numbers allows them to connect with friends and chat with the children in groups. For grandmas or grandpas who have not made many connections with the preschoolers, this is a perfect time for them to see what the children are like and get a taste for visits. For our already beloved and known seniors, it is a little like attending their own lifetime achievement award event. They are greeted with huge enthusiasm, running hugs, tussles over priority seating next to them, and a clamor to show them… everything! A very favorite memory of mine was of our beloved classroom Grandma Bette, who has since passed away, who, whenever the students were with her and she saw a friend, would joyfully call out, “These are my kids!”
This short hour builds and strengthens relationships to such a degree that the teachers are in awe of its success every single year. As we continue to host Open Houses and as the school, students, and teachers’ relationships with these special people grow stronger and wider across the building, that magic feeling when we are all together grows as well. It’s community. It’s vital, special, and sacred and an absolute gift for both the seniors and the students to genuinely feel it on both ends of the life spectrum.
