Village with Seniors
Our Time with Seniors
A Multi-Generational Experience
The world we live in today is one that all too frequently isolates and limits communication between generations. There are fewer and fewer opportunities for infants and toddlers to know the loving and caring touch and attention of their grandparents and great-grandparents because of distance. The availability of multi-generation households has diminished greatly over the past 20 years, and it is becoming more and more unusual for several generations to be near enough to one another to provide regular contact and interaction among these groups.
The value of these contacts is immeasurable. Older adults provide a special and unique resource for infants and toddlers. They provide an admiring and non-judgmental audience who give repeated demonstrations, smiles, physical comfort and uncritical feedback. The children offer their older partners a valued glimpse into the future and revive fond memories of the distant past. Women and men in their later years bring a richness and deep appreciation of parenting that many young mothers might never experience due to physical distances with their own families. The combination of these individuals provides a very special learning and growing environment for every person involved.
Benefits of Village/Our Time with Seniors
Village/Our Time with Seniors is unique in the benefits it offers to several groups of people at once. It isn't possible to list all these benefits, but some are enumerated below to give you a sense of the many happy effects that can result from these classes.
Benefits for Seniors:
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Increased role of involvement in society and contribution to the lives of today's children-
opportunity to pass life experiences along to the next generation -
Opportunity for creativity, self-expression
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Interaction of group dynamics
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Lessened depression due to a sense of self-worth
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Formation of new friendships
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Anticipation of weekly programs that make life more satisfying
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Improved personal appearance as the children's visit is anticipated
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Increased (or at the least, maintained) motor, social, cognitive, emotional and sensory skills
due to social and musical inspiration and motivation -
Opportunity to reminisce, restore and stimulate memories, keeping brain cells
healthy and functioning -
Sense of hope for the future through involvement with today's children
Benefits for Children:
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Opportunity to interact with elders (this opportunity often is lost in today's transitory society)
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Opportunity to develop a positive attitude toward the elderly
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Opportunity to be part of a supportive environment that aids attitudes toward aging
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Increased and broadened child support system
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Opportunity to observe and become comfortable with various disabilities
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Increased respect for individual differences
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Formation of new friendships
Benefits for Families of Children and Seniors:
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Opportunity to witness loved ones in an enjoyable activity
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Opportunity to see both ends of the life spectrum - where they are going, what their children can bring to the elderly, what the seniors can bring to the young
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Opportunity to share information and feelings about the children of today and/or growing older
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Contribution to community building
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Increased conversational topics when visiting the elderly
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Formation of new friendships
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Decreased generation gap
Benefits for Retirement Staff:
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Bridging of the generations
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Opportunity to contribute and participate in well-planned activities
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Cost-effective programming
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Increased topics of conversation with seniors
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Improved staff morale
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Opportunity to chart goals and objectives for state/facility report on seniors' participation
You're never too young, or too old, to enjoy music and movement!
For more information about
Kindermusik Village/Our Time with Seniors
please contact:
InstrumentaLinks, Inc.
(912) 728-KEYS (5397)
kindermusik@instrumentalinks.com