Special guest blog by Dana Stadnyk from Imperial Ehrlo Early Learning Centre

The early years of a child’s life are fundamentally important in shaping their future health, happiness, growth, and development.

At Ehrlo Early Learning Centres (EELC) staff work to provide children with a variety of quality experiences to contribute to their development of learning skills and social and emotional abilities.

EELC takes children beyond the confines of the classroom, and into the community where they can learn, grow, and experience life. The impression of the new sights, sounds, and smells on the senses helps children better understand themselves and the world around them.

Each Tuesday, EELC Imperial takes its little people on a special trip to the Regina Lutheran Care Home. The field trip provides the children with a weekly routine, but something that varies from their day-to-day activities at the learning centre.

While at the care home, children participate in various activities including crafts, colouring, and games such as bean bag toss, noodle ball, and the parachute. The children also participate in special events with the seniors including Halloween celebrations, the petting zoo, and annual carnival.

The "grandmas and grandpas" are a special part of the weekly trip. The children spend quality time with the seniors singing songs and reading stories; they enjoy the interaction and the residents respond enthusiastically.

The children aren’t the only ones who benefit from this interaction, the residents at the care home respond very enthusiastically. Both the young and old seem quite delighted by the experience as smiles spread across their faces and laughter fills the air.

Partnerships like this one between EELC and the Regina Lutheran Care Home are important as they teach children respect and how to give to others. The arrangement also encourages children to connect with their community and to learn more about themselves through others.

The children at Imperial recently did a good deed for the grandmas and grandpas at Regina Lutheran Care Home to show their appreciation for the time, attention, and experiences they have received. The kids spent a few weeks making and decorating greeting cards, baking chocolate chip cookies, and planting flowers – all for the seniors.