June 1st is Intergenerational Day Canada. What a great opportunity to write about my favorite hour of the week: co-facilitating Baby Goose at Swan Valley, an intergenerational music and literacy program.
It’s Friday morning and the residents of the Harris Wing at Swan Valley Lodge are gathered in a circle. We enter with comfy floor mats, containers full of pre-cut baby-friendly snacks, instruments and colourful scarfs. My toddler son, Che is with me. He smiles as he recognizes where we are. It’s time for Baby Goose at Swan Valley. Most of the residents recognize us and are happy to see Che and the other children who come. I give my ukulele a quick tune while 22-month-old Che socializes with the residents. Some break into big smiles as soon as they see us, ‘Oh, the babies are here!’ they exclaim.
Che has been coming to Swan Valley and Crest View alternatively since we began to take Baby Goose (a partnership between the Library and Columbia Basin Alliance for Literary) – to the care homes in town. I always leave the program completely grateful and full of the deepest kind of satisfaction. The simple routine of sharing familiar songs with the oldest and youngest among us brings mutual joy.
We often recite traditional rhymes that the residents remember, old favorites such as “Humpty Dumpty” or “Little Miss Muffet”. The engagement builds as we join for perennial favorites still known by all generations – “You are My Sunshine” always gets everybody singing, as does the nostalgic “My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean”. During these songs, almost every resident in the room sings along, sometimes with their eyes closed. These songs, learned in childhood, are sometimes the last to go, after all more recent memories start to fade in mid or late stages of dementia.
Later in the program, we bring out colourful scarves that the older children help distribute around the circle. The babies enjoy putting these over their heads or playing a game of peekaboo with their parents. I encourage the residents to wave them from side to side or up and down, creating a symphony of colour in the room, while providing excellent muscular exercise. Bring out the scarves and we are all children again.
There is research and case studies on the mutually beneficial things that happen when we intentionally bring together the different generations. Some preschools have co-located with care facilities, where the children visit the residents daily for art, PE or music. Other programs include young children reading to seniors, choirs involving high school students and older adults with dementia, and many others. The benefits for the older generation include less isolation, an increased sense of purpose, fun, more physical activity, and fewer instances of depression. The benefits for children or youth who take part in regular interactions with seniors are development of communication skills, positive attitudes toward aging, a sense of purpose and community service.
Perhaps the time is ripe to intentionally open daycare centres within walking distance of Cres View or Swan Valley to allow for easy access to regular visits or to find a way to bus elementary kids in for one-one reading programs with seniors. There are countless ways Creston could become a more intergenerational community.
Music will remain my firm favorite for bringing the generations together because it reminds us of the humanity we share, our collective response to rhythm, melody, and how bonded and uplifted we feel after time spent singing together. As four-year-old Abigail whispered to her mom at the end of last week’s program, “I want to stay here forever”.
Ellie Reynolds is an employee of Creston Valley Public Library. Baby Goose takes place every Friday morning at 10.30am. Visit www.crestonlibrary.com/event/baby-goose/ or find us on Facebook.
