SEDRO-WOOLLEY — It’s not every day that residents of Country Meadow Village are alongside kids scribbling with crayons.
The senior living center and the Central Skagit Library have partnered to make that a more frequent occurrence, kicking off a program Wednesday called Home Again Storytime.
During the morning program, five local kids and about 20 County Meadow Village residents came together for storytime, crafts and games.
“I’m just thrilled at this fun day!” County Meadow Village Program Director David Bricka said.
The free program is scheduled to continue from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20 and March 20 at Country Meadow Village, 1501 Collins Road.
Bricka said he and the library staff who developed the program hope to make it a continuous, monthly activity for County Meadow Village residents and families in the area.
“Anytime that I can get kids into our community for an event or activity, I work really hard to make it happen,” Bricka said. “They bring such joy and laughter to all of us.”
Central Skagit Library Youth Services Specialist Allia Allen agreed. She said the program’s start Wednesday was a successful one.
“We read ‘The Mitten’ by Jan Brett and had wonderful fun discussing some of our favorite wintertime memories,” she said.
The program’s name, Home Again Storytime, was inspired by one of Allen’s favorite nursery rhymes and the underlying goal of bringing older and younger generations together is to help them feel at home alongside one another.
“Our older generations have so much more life experience and so much valuable information, memories and lessons to offer those that have yet to experience much, like our younger children,” Allen said. “Likewise, our younger generations have so much joy and positive energy to share with our older generations. I call that great potential paired with great experience.”
Following Wednesday’s playtime, storytime, singing and crafts, Bricka said one of the parents at the event told him it was a great experience for their 5-year-old to interact with an older generation.