Many of you will have spent time together over the Festive Season with your families.
However, some of our elderly folk might not have been so fortunate.
One of the most common reasons, they come to a Day Centre, such as the one I volunteer at, is because they are lonely, housebound and either have no family or their families are a distance away.
My suggestion for 2011 -- set up a visit of some children to your Senior Group.
Most towns have Brownie or Rainbow packs - approach their leaders and suggest a get-together.
Or maybe you have a school nearby and can arrange a visit with the Head Teacher.
The secret of success in this venture, would be to decide beforehand, with the leaders / teachers, a program of activities.
The whole visit should not last much longer than one hour.
Suggested Activities Start off with the children singing a few songs - this will break the ice! They might like to also show your group some of their "Brownie Pack Drill" - or if a class, maybe they know some poems to recite.
Place the children at tables, mixed into your senior group and give them all, either colouring-in (pre-printed pictures on A4 sheets) or blank greeting cards and an assortment of Stickers (self adhesive) or pre-cut-out pictures from recycled cards (supply glue sticks) to make up some Birthday Cards.
Together with their leaders / teachers, circulate and get them all going...
You will soon see the oldsters and youngsters helping each other, chatting and having fun.
End the session with a drink and a biscuit all round! Benefits Older people so enjoy having children around (in small doses!) as it cheers them up in the same way that Spring does - fresh young faces and the energy children exude, are so invigorating for the elderly.
Children too need to experience the relevance of the older folk.
They will go away, knowing more about the people in their community.
Some of them will have elderly members of family, but not all.
This will be an important encounter in their young lives.
If you would like to find more suggestions for Craft and Activities for the Elderly please have a look at my Blog.