September is known for many things including the start of the new school year, Labor Day, and National Cat Day.  For us at Willson House we celebrate National Intergenerational Month all of September by having special events that encourage the interaction of our seniors with the children in Willson House Child Development Center. We share the belief with Donna Butts, director of Generations United, who said, "When the wisdom of age is mixed with the energy of youth, it creates a powerful combination that benefits everyone".

Whether it's by sharing a special event like the Annual Tea Party, storytelling, meals, musical performances, reading, or taking a walk in the sunshine together, there are so many opportunities for our seniors to spend time with children.  However, we don't just do these things during Intergenerational Month.  It's a daily occurrence for us at Willson House. 

We love visitors and encourage you to come by to check out our programs and see how our generations learn and grow together every day of the month.  Call Annette at 503.585.6511 to have lunch with us and take a tour. 

An annual event that both the children from Willson House Child Development Center and the seniors from Willson House and Jason Lee Manor all enjoy is the Tea Party which will take place on September 10th from 3:00pm to 5pm.  The children range in age from 2 to 8 years old and they really look forward to wearing beautiful hats, eating special little sandwiches and drinking from real tea cups. Tables are decorated by staff members based on popular themes such as Mickey Mouse/ Disneyland, Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh’s Tea Party.  Last year there were 20 children and 60 adults and we are expecting record attendance at the 2014 Tea Party.

The intergenerational program at Willson House is one of the first of its kind in Oregon and since 1985 it’s been a place for generations to learn and grow together. On a normal day, seniors drop in at the Child Development Center to visit, read books, make crafts, sing songs, or share stories with the children. The children make daily visits to Willson House and Jason Lee to share activities with the residents.

Whether it’s a Tea Party or an impromptu activity, the residents look forward to interacting with the children.  Studies show that seniors who are exposed to intergenerational activities have more positive attitudes and memory improvements than the non-participating residents.  The sound of a child’s laughter and the unconditional love children give are just two of the many benefits the seniors at Willson House enjoy.

On September 10th at 3:00pm bring a friend and come to Willson House for a fun afternoon of tea, snacks, laughter and lots of fun!  Wearing a fancy hat to the Tea Party is optional… wanting to have fun with children is all that’s required.  Call us at 503.585.6511 for more information.

Mark your calendars to attend the 2nd Annual Intergenerational Carnival on August 7th! The carnival was so much fun last year for both the children at Willson House Child Development Center and the residents who live at Willson House, that it has become an annual event. The Carnival this year takes place on Wednesday, August 7th from 10am to 4pm.  This event is a thank you to our friends and families who make what we do possible.

There will be so much fun at the Carnival with a bounce house, magician, dunk tank, face painting, games, and door prizes. Snack on cotton candy and sno cones before enjoying a wonderful BBQ lunch. For more information please email Karen Kilgore or call 503.363.5812.

The carnival is just one example of the intergenerational activities that take place between the Child Development Center and the residents at Willson House. Studies show that both the children and the older adults benefit so much from this type of program. The concept of inter-generational care is founded on the belief that intentionally bringing the generations together benefits both. This model of care for seniors and children was popularized in the 1990s and has been growing ever since. Our facility was founded in 1985 as the first intergenerational facility in the State of Oregon and became one of the pilot programs for this model across the country.

At Willson House Child Development Center, you will find children and seniors interacting daily. Children and seniors will be together singing songs, telling stories, making crafts or participating in annual events like our Tea Party or Carnival. Seniors also frequent our classrooms to say hello, lead projects, or serve as volunteers. No matter what the interaction may be, the young and young at heart will be learning and growing, together.