The children at Future Stars Daycare in Cochrane will be having some special visitors once a month from now on.
The daycare is partnering with the Bethany Care Centre, a long-term care facility, for a monthly craft activity with some of the residents and children. The first activity took place at the daycare Feb. 24.
A new initiative for both enterprises, on the last Wednesday of every month the centre will send over residents who volunteer to go and spend some quality time with children at the daycare.
“We thought it would be a cute idea to get the community, and the larger and smaller, together,” said Jennifer Booth, the director of Future Stars Daycare.
She and Omid Hedayat, the daycare’s owner, came up with the idea recently and approached the Bethany Care Centre to see if they would be interested in trying it out.
The centre was happy to oblige.
“We’re always looking for community outlets we can access so residents can stay connected,” said Jason Johnson, recreational therapist with the centre.
“The idea is simple but it’s fun. Some of these kids may not have grandparents in their lives and vice versa some of the residents may not have grandchildren in their lives so it’s a nice interaction to have,” Booth explained.
The daycare opened in Cochrane in June 2015 and takes care of children from 12 months to five years in age. It currently looks after 21 kids and Booth said the number only seems to increase as childcare is very sought after in Cochrane.
The centre intends to send four to six residents to participate in the crafts with the children, depending on what other programs are happening the day of and who is available to go.
If the first craft activity, which resulted in a room full of smiles and laughter, was any indication, the initiative is sure to be a success.
