Artful Living connects toddlers and seniors through playing and learning

MASSILLON – Brielle Hall turned around.

The 5-year-old took her “grandma’s” hands and danced.

Every Friday for the past six months, a group of Massillon preschoolers and their parents or guardians have met with Danbury Senior Living residents at the Massillon Museum as part of the Artful Living and Learning program.

Every session starts and ends with hugs.

“Who doesn’t love a toddler hug?” Michele Waalkes asked as she watched Brielle and other Massillon toddlers interact with the seniors earlier this month.

Founded in 2008 by Christopher Craft and Wilbur Arnold through their affiliation with the museum, the program uses dance, drama, music, literacy and visual arts lessons to teach preschoolers in Stark County the Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards . The program falls under the umbrella of the Stark County Educational Service Center.

Artful Living serves 24 Stark County public schools and other affiliated preschools. The program is based on research showing that art immersion in preschool classrooms not only improves academic performance and creative problem solving, but also prepares students for kindergarten.

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This year, the Artful Living program expanded its intergenerational lessons by pairing preschoolers with seniors in Massillon and Canton. A two-year grant from the Ohio Arts Council supports the program.

The program is a win-win situation for both the seniors and the toddlers.

The seniors — who may be facing social isolation — will have a chance to get out of their homes and experience the excitement and fun of the younger generation, Waalkes said.

The preschoolers are introduced to the older generation, some of whom may not interact with them. They call the seniors ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa’.

“It’s just beautiful,” Waalkes said. “Everyone lights up and the kids love the attention.”

The intergenerational program is not mandatory. Massillon’s preschoolers, who do not go to class on Fridays, come with their guardians.

Waalkes has seen both the students and residents grow as the children became more comfortable with the seniors and their mobility aids.

“We have seen the benefits of attending.”

When Brielle’s mother, Dixie Hall, heard about the program, she thought it would be a good opportunity for her daughter to make new friends.

“She was a little shy at first, but now she loves the grandmas and grandpas,” Dixie Hall said. “We have seen the benefits of attending. We are very sad that it is over.”

When asked why she likes to come back to meet the seniors, Brielle answers: “Because it makes me happy.”

Danbury resident Ann Renkert echoed Hall.

“I really enjoyed it. I’m just sad it’s over,” she said. “I really enjoyed seeing their kids. They run up to you and say hello.”

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Joanie Christoff loved seeing the excitement in the children while interacting with them.

“I love kids,” the former GlenOak teacher said. “They are precious.”

Teresa Gregg, Danbury regional director of life enrichment, said the experience has been a blessing for residents who have built relationships with the youth. Each week they learned more about the children and enjoyed interacting with them.

“It was great to see the relationships blossom from month to month,” she said. “The children interacting with the residents, the smiles, hugs and working together on lessons. I really don’t know who has more fun: the residents, toddlers or parents who laugh so happily. These meaningful connections between young and old are so beautiful and authentic.”

Emily Gordon, teacher in the Artful Living and Learning program, led participants through a variety of activities, including rhyming and matching. Every student and senior had a letter. Children were asked to match the senior who had their letter.

Massillon Museum Director Alexandra Nicholis Coon praised the program.

“Having been at the Massillon Museum when Artful Living emerged in 2008, and knowing that it was conceived as a ‘cradle to grave’ program, it is wonderful to witness its evolution into the intergenerational component,” said she. “It has been transformative for everyone involved.”

The program opened opportunities for the residents of Danbury. In addition to meeting the preschoolers, the seniors were able to explore the museum and the programs it has to offer, Gregg said.

The seniors are members of Danbury’s memory care community, she added.

While this year’s program is over, Gregg said the preschoolers and their families visited Danbury over Easter and were invited for ice cream in May.

“We wanted them to be able to visit our house,” she said.

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared in The Independent: Artful Living programme, which pairs seniors and preschoolers