Intergenerational Child Care Program (ICCP)

The Intergenerational Child Care Program (ICCP) was established in 1999 when the organization moved its program to the Wesleyan Senior Living , a senior living facility. We currently collaborate with Wesleyan Senior Living to offer our ICCP, and the program is entering its 8th year. We are one of three facilities in our county that offer an intergenerational component for childcare and early childhood education.

The ICCP provides children from low-income, working families a needed connection with Lorain County seniors. Older adults and young children gain significantly from experiences and friendships that form as a result of this program. The seniors interact directly with the children in our center and act as mentors on a regular basis. Many of the children in our center come from families that have moved away from traditional family bonds. They have not had an opportunity to form or benefit from relationships with grandparents. ICCP provides children with a much-needed component to early childhood development for children who otherwise would not have relationships with senior adults.

"It is generally noted that children benefit from extra nurturing and attention, and seniors benefit from the sense of being needed and appreciated," (McCrea & Smith, 1997, Intergenerational programs: Past, present, and future). The "Grandfriends" enjoy their time with the children, and the children enjoy sharing their classroom projects with them.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) also recognizes the importance of exposing children to rich information about all of the developmental stages of life, including old age and states the following three goals for intergenerational curriculum in its accredited
centers:

  • Give children accurate information about older people.
  • Show children that every person is unique, just like every child.
  • Enable children to feel good about older people - and growing older themselves.

While many of the positive outcomes of the ICCP will be unique and dependent upon the activity taking place as well the environment in which the activity is taking place, certain general benefits can be anticipated for young children and senior adults:

  • Enhancement of literacy, math and science skills
  • Increased understanding of aging as a natural ongoing process
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Dispelling myths and stereotypes of young children and senior adults
  • Encouragement for supportive, meaningful relationships between
    young and old
  • Strengthening informal support networks
  • Filling the gaps that formal social services and families cannot fill
  • Providing cost-effective programs that decrease competition for scarce funds and resources
  • Promoting community collaboration, pooling resources, cooperative problem solving
  • Using time and energy in meaningful involvement
  • Sharing experiences and coping skills

The Linden School's ICCP serves 100 children and over 200 seniors residing in Wesleyn Senior Living.

For more information on the ICCP, contact Cathy Dolan-James, Assistant Director/ICCP Coordinator.

For information on the Macklin Intergenerational Institute, visit their website here.

This project is sponsored by the Stocker Foundation.