Rhyme Time brings together children and seniors

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Published on Tuesday, October 11, 2016

By Miranda Leybourne

Neepawa Press

Inter-generational Rhyme Time is back, giving children and families an opportunity to have fun and bond with local seniors.

The program, running for the second year in a row, is sponsored by the Beautiful Plains School Division (BPSD) and Country Meadows Personal Care Home. It’s a free parent and toddler group held at Country Meadows, where children and a group of about 10 senior citizens get a chance to sing songs, learn rhymes and make crafts together.

Sheila Bremner, preschool facilitator for the BPSD, says the seniors and children really seem to enjoy each others’ company. 

“The children learn from the seniors and the seniors learn from the children,” she remarks.

She says it’s wonderful to see the older people – some of whom don’t have family living nearby – light up when interacting with the little ones.

“It brings back memories for [the seniors]...we do rhymes and songs that...have been handed down from when they were parents, so they’re a real help,” Bremner explains of the special relationship the residents of the care home develop with the children. “You can just see the memories coming back to them.”

Marsha Forgue, activity coordinator at Country Meadows and the one who approached the BPSD with the idea for rhyme time, says the program went over very well last year.

“The [residents] really like seeing the young ones,” she attests. “By the end, they’re more interactive – the kids aren’t as shy. They’ll go over and sit with them.”

Inter-generational Rhyme Time is happening every Thursday from Oct. 13 to Nov. 17 at the care home from 10 – 11 a.m. To register, contact Bremner at 204-476-2455 or 204-476-6290.