Intergenerational Version 15.0

For this version, we have tried to focus on the I (INTERACT WITH PEOPLE) aspect of SMILES & Breathe to encourage connectivity across generations. Kindly refer to the respective sections or printables for other aspects of SMILES & Breathe. We have curated the links (the links are underlined) when possible for your convenience and have no third party affiliations or advertising. User discretion is advised. If a link is not working or not felt to be appropriate, please reach out to us.

Each generation has so much to share in terms of skills and experiences.  The older generations have so much to offer in terms of life skills, wisdom of their ages, experiences. The newer generations have so much to share in terms of current day skills, used of technology and current day tools. We hope the ideas below create touch points between different generations and enhance communication between people of same and different generations- related or unrelated. Communication between generations based not on our differences due to the changing times, but based on sharing knowledge to enhance the life and understanding of each other is the goal of these touch points. Studies have shown that practicing loving kindness and empathy helps bonding.  Letting go of the expectations that the activity needs to be perfect; embrace the good, the bad and the ugly help take the pressure off. Trying to focus on the quality over quantity of the interactions; focusing on common interests, purpose, and values has been shown to be helpful. Many, little good things done by many or one of us that creates a positive change.

While the ideas listed below are grouped, you can use any and whatever works best for you. Consider the THINK process for conversations, emails, social media posts and your thoughts. Is it True/Helpful/ Inspiring/ Necessary/ Kind?

Users, caregivers and guardians are advised to use discretion with respect to the appropriateness of the activity or the links to those involved.

Remember your safety is of utmost importance in all situations. User discretion is advised.

Activities Together

*Eat  *Hike *Ski *Bike *Cook *Bake *Make crafts  *Play music *Dance *Go fishing  *Ice skate *Have a sing-along  *Watch a movie or a game or a play or a ballet or a musical or an orchestra performance *Go donut or restaurant or froyo hopping *Plan a Chopped style cook-off  *Host or plan a potluck where the participants make a themed cuisine recipe *Plan a block party or a progressive dinner for neighbors or friends  *Host a pie swap party: Bring a pie, take a pie, eat a pie *Plan a book swap *Have a ice-cream and s'mores night * Play games in person or via zoom- cards, board games, 20 questions, Charades, Pictionary, Cross words *Play ice breaker games like Two Truths and a Lie, Unique and Shared, TableTopics or Psych or We’re Not Really Strangers *Have a spa day  *Have a boys night out or girls night out *Go bowling *Host a karaoke or  an Improv *Run or walk a 5K *Write funny lyrics to songs you know and have a sing along *Try acapella *Debate or discuss (current topics, philosophy, Star Wars, math) *Explore a museum *Travel or be a tourist in your own town *Give back ( please see community service) *Attend the conservatory’s music programs  or an opera or an acapella concert *Plan a themed sleepover *Plan a board game or trivia tournament *Plan a Mad Libs tournament * Go berry or apple picking and make a pie *Learn or teach a new hobby online via outlets like Skillshare.

You can consider long term projects in an area of common interest like knitting, furniture making, quilting, researching a book or reading a series together, researching your family tree or an anthology or any topic of your common interest.

Learn Together

* Consider taking an online class or learning from Youtube videos- crafting, cooking, knitting, dancing, quilting etc.

* Platforms like Khan Academy, MIT Open Courseware, Open Culture, Udacity, Coursera, Edx, Class Central, MasterClass, Skillshare, YouTube’s Learn@Home are a few places which offer online courses. Some courses are free of cost if you audit them.

* Look at your local university’s web page for subsidized learning programs like OLLI and BSU.

* Learn a new language.

* Look into the resources on your local library’s website.

* Stir your curiosity by listening to a TED talk, a podcast, or watch a documentary online or a video on BrainPOP.

*Read and/or listen to books from your local library’s online page, DPLA, Open Library, Gutenberg.org, National Archives, Audible, Learning Ally, Kindle, Spotify books, Overdrive, Hoopla, Libby by Overdrive, or USA.gov library. 

Community Service Together

Organize a clothing drive, food drive, book drive, gift card drive.

Volunteer at a local food pantry or Freedge.

Volunteer at a religious or nondenominational organization.

Volunteer your time to deliver food/goods to those in need.

Raise awareness about hunger, food insecurity, food waste, women at risk, veterans, cancer, suicide prevention or volunteer elsewhere.

Raise funds for a cause (troops, animal shelter, climate, domestic abuse, girls missing schools due to periods, etc.).

Organize a school or community wide garage sale where families can contribute new or gently used items from around the house and kids can shop.

Co-host a Birthday Party or an online yardsale for a cause.

Make cards for children and adults in the hospital or people in long term care facilities or troops who may be facing loneliness.

Write encouragement or thank you letters or send a care package to the troops.

Write letters to people you love, care givers, essential workers, people who have helped you in any way.

Throw a movie party for children in a shelter.

Donate to or fundraise for the area shelter.

Organize clothing for newborns and preemies in the NICU.

Donate a days’ worth of paycheck to a person in need or to a charity.

Volunteer at the local food pantry or the local animal shelter.

Start or contribute to a Little Free Library or a Little Free Pantry.

Volunteer for or read to the visually impaired.

Check the local town, community, or religious facilities’ calendars for the community.