Kindness Creators Ben M. and Layla J. dance for the Oak Park Arms residents during the Arms Valentine’s Day Dance in Oak Park, Ill.

Seniors and Preschoolers find Cupid at Valentine’s Dance

Oak Park Arms resident Donald Vivas dances with Kindness Creators Kayla B. during the Arms Valentines Day Dance Tuesday, February 14, 2023, in Oak Park, Ill.

Young students from the Kindness Creators Intergenerational Preschool joined seniors from the Oak Park Arms Senior Living Community for a Valentine’s Dance. Preschoolers and seniors often spend time together and everyone benefits learning from one another.

The goal is to help kids become more accepting of older people, and for older people to be more accepting of kids. Seniors report they don’t think about their age when in the company of young children. The youngsters bring a sense of vitality and fun, and the focus shifts to living in the moment.

“Anytime you sit with kids, it makes your day,” said Nancy Thornton, a resident of the Oak Park Arms.

The Oak Park Arms Senior Living is a rental retirement community which provides senior housing in the form of independent living and assisted living apartments. Additional services include respite care and an award-winning adult day care program. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The Kindness Creators is an Intergenerational Preschool serving children ages 3-5 years old through intergenerational, social, emotional, and pre-academic programming. Kindness Creators is located within the award-winning Oak Park Arms Retirement Community.

For more information about the Oak Park Arms, call 708-386-4040. For more information about Kindness Creators visit: https://kindnesscreators.org/ or call 708-948-7634.

Photos from the Valentine’s Dance

Oak Park Arms resident Donald Vivas dances with Kindness Creators Kayla B. during the Arms Valentines Day Dance Tuesday, February 14, 2023, in Oak Park, Ill.