Guest Guest_mawbell Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Hi everyone, Today I received a call from a grade 8 teacher that wants to bring her class (17 students) over to spend time with our residents once a week. I thought wow what do you do with 17 kids when your facility has so many heavy care residents. All I could think of is bringing them over for special themes like Easter, vals, Xmas, spring etc. Has anyone come across something like this and if you did what did you do? Hate not to try something where a teacher sees the importance of young people interacting with the seniors but I don't have the staff or cognitive residents to work with 17 kids. Thanks Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pat8231 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Hi Linda, Nice to see kids taking part in activities for the facility. Our AD at the ALF lets the school age kids come during holidays or just to have a sing-a-long. Some came with pre-made crafts and left a craft outside each door. Also, what about letting them serve cookies and juice if possible. Pat8231 8-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana 0 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 At one facility I went to, the kids were very comfortable ( a little younger than the group you'll be getting, though) and they were each paired up with a resident - some had to students to a resident. They had 15-20 minutes of different things, such as a game of checkers, coloring, reading a story (the kids read to the resident), etc. The resident felt like they were mentoring the child, and the kids had a great flow because the whole time they were guided by the teacher as to when to clean up and when to switch projects. I could tell that obviously, the kids were well trained by the teacher ahead of time. See if there is something that the 8th graders could do that was at their level. I bet if you worked with the teacher for half and hour to an hour, you two could make out a plan that would suit both really well! Sounds like a really fun project, keep us posted on what you come up with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 I think Pat has a good idea about doing a sing-a-long, everyone can be involved with that! or just have a social - have the kids serve the residents food and do simple trivia! karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_wonytineres Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Not only am I an Activity Director, but also Mom to an 8th grade boy... his class visits a local CCRC several times throughout the year and it seems the Activity Director usually has them working on large projects at the facility. Last spring they helped plant container gardens, they've built bluebird houses for a local conservation park, they assisted with a picnic outing this past fall and they've done more traditional activity things like bingo games, reading, etc. One week the kids were told to bring homework and the residents spent time helping/watching the kids. My son loves it... I do think if the AD had not planned some special projects the kids would have lost interest. Eighth graders are 13-14 years old- rough age! Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 Every year I have a group of 6th graders come and we do an Adpot A Grandparent program. Like Diana, the teacher prepares them ahead of time and I match them up with the residents. The first day is "Getting to know you". The kids hava a set of questions to ask. Each week the teacher gives them a small assignment, and then thye play table games with the residents. We also serve refreshments. Also throughout the year, we have a group of 7th and 8th graders that come. For this, I choose to do larger events. A big bingo party that the student are responsible for bringing gifts. A harder craft that the kids work and help the residents. Senior Olympics has worked as well. It is a good opportunity for the residents as well as the kids. Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc_sunshine68 0 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 My facility is working on a project that gives the residents the "experience" of visiting each state. I have ordered all of the visitors guides from each state to and we take a trip each week to a new state. In doing this I would also like to incorporate sending and receiving colorful postcards from other states. If anyone would like to join this project please e-mail me and we will exchange mailing info. Please be sure to put in the subjectline "postcards" so I will know that it is about the project. Thanks for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine122 0 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 Hi there! Intergenerational activities are great...that's how I found out what I wanted to do! Hermitage House (a group home or something on that order for kids with problems) visits three times a week. On Tuesday morning one group comes and bowls with the residents, Tuesday afternoon another smaller group comes and if I don't have something planned (Ring Toss or cards etc.) the maintenance supervisor takes the kids and does something like puts in lightbulbs etc. Friday morning a different group comes to bowl...my residents LOVE bowling...oh, I almost forgot...they bowl on Thursday night, too. Once a month Headstart comes in...they are coming in Monday morning and we're having a Dr. Seuss party(belated) cuz they were busy on the 2nd! Sometimes the kids play parachute with the residents or a parent has a craft that they can do together. Good Luck to you...maybe have the kids read to the residents...be sure to let us know what you come up with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinm 2 Report Share Posted March 6, 2006 I had at another facility 25-30 kids about that age come to my facility twice a month.. We did a mini olympics... pared 2-3 kids with each resident, and they went to 3 various "stations" to play a certain game... we had bowling at one, golf at another (putting green) and basketball for the third. They all counted off 1...2...3....etc to form the teams.. Kids got to play along with the residents at each station. We have also used bean bag horseshoes, and other games simular.. they had a blast! Presently I have 10 kids from the local high school from the special ed class come twice a week. They do all sorts of jobs REAL jobs while here for their hour. Some work in Laundry, housekeeping, dietary, amd of course, activities.. They get quite an education while here thats for sure... One popular activity they do is going for a "walk around the world" and take our folks in wheelchairs for a stroll around the block and neighborhood. Eveyone loves it! and it gets our folks out of the building and seeing something else than the same 4 walls all the time... Kevin in Fla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nicole Smith Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 I have 16 8th graders come in twice a month. They come in right after lunch and we play "Buddy Bingo". Each child pairs up with a resident and we play 6 different games of Bingo which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. All games have the same prize - a little box of chocolates (from Longs, Rite Aid - a box of chocolates from Enteman's 4 chocolates for $1.00). The winners, child/resident, share the chocolates. The residents look forward to seeing the kids and the kids have to rotate which residents they sit with and end up visiting with the residents they've met in the previous weeks. It costs me a total of $12 per month and has been a great success! Good luck! brianandnicoles@comcast.net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.