Primrose Roswell Pre-Kindergarten Students and Residents of Arbor Terrace Assisted Living Facility Make Music Together

ROSWELL, Ga. (May 24, 2016) – The late Mister Fred Rogers once said, "Whether we're a preschooler… or a retired person, we human beings all want to know that we're acceptable, that our being alive somehow makes a difference in the lives of others." The Giving Tree, an intergenerational music program that Primrose School of Roswell North participated in this semester, allowed both the children and the elderly residents of Arbor Terrace Assisted Living to make differences in each other’s lives. Primrose Roswell’s Private Pre-K classes visited Arbor Terrace at Crabapple once per week to sing, dance and play instruments with the residents and Melissa Sorensen, a licensed music therapist from The George Center for Music Therapy, Inc. The program used music to facilitate interaction between the children and the residents, allowing two generations that rarely interact to learn from and share love with each other.

“It has been a joy to watch the children and seniors interact this semester,” says Chelsea Hollifield, the assistant director of Primrose Roswell. “The adults’ faces light up when the children walk into the room, which one of our teachers refers to as the children ‘bringing sunshine into the room.’ They have formed some really special bonds this semester.”

Intergenerational preschool programs are a growing trend and the benefits for such programs are numerous. For children, the benefits include an increased understanding of the aging process, refining soft social skills such as manners and learning about giving to those in need. The benefits for older adults include community access, increased emotional support and expanded social roles.

The Giving Tree is organized by Stephanie Mock, the engagement director of Arbor Terrace, in partnership with The George Center for Music Therapy, owned by Jamie George, LPMT, MM, MT-BC. The George Center for Music Therapy is a music therapy clinic that employs 9 full-time music therapists serving the metro-Atlanta area. Melissa Sorensen, LPMT, MT-BC, currently leads The Giving Tree.

The Primrose Balanced Learning© curriculum highlights the importance of character development and giving back to the community through its Happy Hearts program, along with a proven academic curriculum and enrichment programs. To learn more about Primrose School of Roswell North, visit www.primroseroswellnorth.com.