Intergenerational afternoons bringing seniors and kids together

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 27, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Two-year-old Destiny Williams reacts as she plays a game of connect-four with senior Yvonne Wilson on Wednesday at the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre.

Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre is working with the Family Centre to host afternoons of board games and music with seniors and youth. The intergenerational sessions look to bridge the gaps between age groups with fun activities through shared interests.

Wednesday’s session saw seniors connect with youth at the Nord-Bridge Multi-Purpose Hall.

“We partner up with the Lethbridge Family Centre bringing our seniors from Nord-Bridge to do an intergenerational afternoon. We originally started it about five or six years ago as the L-SKIP program. Now it has morphed into community members coming out and getting that connection,” said Ashley Kern, program coordinator at Nord-Bridge. “Happiness has definitely increased. They feel a sense of worth. Because as they get older, they can teach little ones skills they have learned throughout their lives. It is beneficial for all of them.”

Looking to create connections the events help both youth and seniors create a relationship of friendship.

“They get this sense of connection amongst the different ages,” said Kern. “There is this one kid that has been coming for the last few months and now he has created some connections with our members. Starting to recognize them over time and start to create those kinds of relationships.”

With an afternoon of fun activities and laughs, kids came in costume to show off what they will be wearing for Halloween.

“It is really important to build that gap between the elders and children,” said Taylor Slezina, parent coach for Family Centre West. “There is family that they don’t get to see, like grandma and grandpa, because they live so far away. To have these programs where they can interact with and learn from their elders brings a chance to get active.”

Nord-Bridge will host the event again on Nov. 23 at 3:15 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Hall at its facility at 1904 13 Ave N., hoping to connect more relationships across generations while having a fun time.

“Intergenerational programs are mutually beneficial,” said Kern. “You don’t have to have kids in a certain age, you can bring any kind of age. If you are a senior and you are wanting to volunteer your time and you miss your grandchildren this is a great program to come to.”

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