Preschool students, Primrose residents find friendship in one another

Apr. 25—The Broekers have the best backyard.

There are big, tall trees the preschool kids next door can run around. They call them the "racetrack trees."

Big trees produce a lot of sticks. Sticks young children love to pick up. There's a patch of soft grass and dandelions in the spring, too.

Being neighbors to My Caterpillar Clubhouse, an outdoor preschool, Dick and Beverly Broeker were never short on entertainment.

There were hayrides around the backyard in the fall. Anytime Dick sat outside, his chair would fill up with leaves, grass and flowers the kids would bring him.

"We have so many cute pictures," Beverly said.

"It was total enjoyment," added Dick.

The Broekers learned right alongside the kids about the syrup-making process when the class tapped one of their trees. They saw an egg hatch into a chick when the preschool received an incubator from the local Purdue Extension office.

"It was our backyard education," Beverly said.

Naturally, the Broekers consider the kids at My Caterpillar Clubhouse their own grandchildren. The kids call them Grandma and Grandpa Broeker.

"The kids every day always said hi to the Broekers," said Stephanie McKinstry, director of the preschool.

Dick and Beverly moved to Primrose Retirement Community the day after Christmas last year. Their multi-story house was too difficult to traverse in older age.

Explaining to 3, 4 and 5 year olds why their next door neighbors weren't there wasn't the easiest thing for McKinstry.

Yes, that's still their house. No, they don't live there.

The good times with the kiddos from My Caterpillar Clubhouse haven't stopped, though.

Twice a month, the preschool visits Primrose for games, coloring and friendship. The preschoolers call it going to the Broekers. At Primrose, it's called grandfriends.

Monday afternoon, kids and residents colored Earth Day sheets and played with Play-Doh.

McKinstry reached out to Primrose after researching intergenerational preschool programs.

There are preschools that are housed in the same facility as retirement homes. There, both kids and older adults receive services while also interacting with one another. These types of preschools are more common in larger cities.

"It felt like an important connection to make," McKinstry said.

Almost immediately, McKinstry saw the visits pay off. During one of their first times at Primrose, the kids and the residents were batting a balloon back and forth. One resident sat and watched. Then one of the kids gave her a hug.

"They just held on to her," McKinstry said. "I could see an exhale. She just whispered 'I didn't even know I needed that.'"

Primrose residents used to come to My Caterpillar Clubhouse to read to the kids, prior the pandemic. Many of them are still there today.

Pat Parker was one of the women who used to read to the preschoolers. She sat next to Autumn Garber as they colored together.

"I like your nails!" Autumn said, totally unprompted.

"You can't compete with the energy of a child," McKinstry said. "These kids don't judge. They just want to have fun."

Studies indicate intergenerational preschools benefit both young children and older adults.

Interactions between children and adults are good for sensory stimulation, boost self-esteem and promote positive socialization. Intellectual development is also seen in both groups.

Other studies show combining care for both children and older adults under one roof is cost effective, given the price of day care and adult care.

"You going to cut me a piece of pie, now?" Dick asked the young boy sitting next to him.

The kids decided they were going to make pizza with their Play-Doh. They only had brown and green, but their imaginations made up for the colors they lacked.

Teressa Carrico, life enrichment coordinator at Primrose, said more and more residents are joining in when the preschoolers stop by.

"All of them sleep well after the kids visit," she said.

As Play-Doh time wrapped up, a group of kids walked over to some residents playing cards. They told them goodbye and gave them high-fives and hugs.

Nearly every adult got a hug or a goodbye as the kids left Primrose.

"I feel like this is a better connection with the kids," McKinstry said.

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.