NORTHFIELD — Fifteen giddy kindergartners gathered in the Northfield Senior Center Wednesday, their faces and fingers speckled with white frosting.
For more than 10 years, the Senior Center has partnered with Northfield Elementary School’s kindergarten class to hold “Generations of Fun,” a program whereby students decorate cookies with local seniors.
Starting at 1:15 p.m., the eager children, joined by two seniors, used frosting, M&Ms, Twizzlers, peppermints, candy buttons and some creative juices to decorate gingerbread men.
“We always have a good time,” Council on Aging Director Heather Tower said, looking out over the children. “These guys very much enjoy spending time with the seniors.”
The program was first proposed by Northfield Elementary School kindergarten teacher Ashley Fogle and her paraprofessional at the time, Melissa Porter.
“We talked about the value of linking the children with senior friends,” Fogle said. “It’s a great interdisciplinary, intergenerational kind of thing.”
Tower said many of the children will recognize their new friends when they see them around Northfield and exclaim “That’s my senior.” The program, she said, is especially beneficial for seniors who have families or grandchildren who live far away.
Genevieve Clark, 90, of Northfield has been attending “Generations of Fun” since its start. Having been a children’s nurse and later a teacher at Linden Hill School, Clark has always loved interacting with children.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said, explaining how she loves seeing the children in town, often years later. “They’re so much bigger. Some recognize me and some don’t.”
Together, the children and seniors shared decorating ideas and stories alike.