WHAT IS THE GENERATION TWO INITIATIVE?
• G2 is an organization that asks older adults and college students to create friendships with first grade children through weekly visits to an elementary school; a positive community building experience.
• G2 encourages child advocacy. G2 participants have distinctive insights about the educational needs of young children, and they are encouraged to speak to others about their unique friendships.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GENERATION TWO?
• G2 promotes community building; we bring together adults who can support both each other and young children.
• G2 helps close a generation gap when older adults and college studunts share their wealth of experience and love for children by meeting with children at their elementary school.
• G2 trains emotional mentors that can strengthen and enhance each child’s emotional and social well-being.
• G2 asks adult participants to take their experiences with the children into the community through child advocacy.
HOW DOES GENERATION TWO WORK?
• All children in a participating classroom are invited to weekly play and conversations with a G2 adult friend. The adult friend is an “emotional mentor”.
• Each volunteer friend meets with the same three children for thirty minutes of play and conversation weekly.
• The adults come together to discuss their weekly experience.
• G2 play and discussion groups are open to parents, teachers and the school professionals.
HOW DO GENERATION TWO PARTICIPANTS KNOW WHAT TO DO?
• A G2 school coordinator provides program assistance at each school.
• Participating teachers and school administrators are enthusiastic helpers.
• In-service training is provided before and during the school year.
• Training is enjoyable, and easy to learn.
• Weekly discussion groups provide the opportunity to learn about the children and bring up educational issues.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIAPTE?
• Older adults and college students who want to reach out to the youngest generation are eligible.
• Volunteers must be available during the school year, from early September to late May, for 2.5 hours per week.
• Selection of participants is based on an interview with the G2 school coordinator and the availability of an opening at the school.
• Participants are chosen when possible from the school district’s community.
• The adult friends need to provide their own transportation.
THE BENEFITS…
• G2 is a civics lesson for young children. G2 friends expand the child’s world beyond organized play, computer games, and TV show.
• G2 friends teach relationship building, a foundation for learning.
• G2 friends form new and meaningful friendships with each other.
• G2 friends promote relaxing emotional and social experiences for the children, a welcome relief from the rigors of academic work.
• G2 friends build and strengthen positive relationships within their community; through friendships with children, parents, educators and each other.
• G2 friends communicate about their experiences to friends, neighbors and community.
Play is essential to development as it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children and youth. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006)
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