Our Future
Middle Earth continues to address the child care need in Cleveland County by offering high quality early childhood education programs for young children and maintaining an extensive waiting list. Due to the expansive development of the research campus of the University of Oklahoma, Middle Earth’s original home was torn down in the fall of 2007 to make way for the future. Middle Earth is currently located in a temporary facility until the completion of their new home.
The Future:
Today, Middle Earth faces new and exciting opportunities. Land has been made available to Middle Earth, thanks to the generosity and foresight of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Middle Earth is building their new facility and will return to the research campus of the University of Oklahoma within the next two years. This new permanent home will provide Middle Earth with an incredible opportunity to continue its historic legacy. Middle Earth plans to eventually expand and provide an ongoing intergenerational program bringing young children together with senior citizens on a daily basis.
Intergenerational Program:
Results of an ongoing program with a pilot group of Middle Earth children and a local adult senior day center are very positive. Children and their “Grand-friends” enjoy participating in planned activities including art, music, movement, gardening, cooperative games and literacy rich conversation with each other. Research has shown interacting with the children energizes the adults and captivates the children. Both groups look forward to being together on a weekly basis, and have bonded with hugs and special friendships. In our new location, future plans are for Middle Earth to have an adult senior day program next to our facility, so that we can maintain separate residences but offer joint programs with children and seniors on a daily basis, creating an intergenerational neighborhood.
“Kids and aged adults of this community need this new facility. As a community, we need to ensure that our young and old are loved, safe and creatively stimulated.”
Andi Hamilton, former Middle Earth Parent
The National Council on Aging defines “intergenerational programs” as “activities or programs that increase cooperation, interaction or exchange between any two generations. They involve the sharing of skills, knowledge, or experience between old and young.” Both generations benefit from these programs. As mentors, the elderly are provided with invaluable opportunities to remain useful and vital and make a positive difference to the children with whom they will interact. Children learn to value and enjoy the elderly. For children who live far from their biological grandparents, this exposure is especially important.
Middle Earth’s proposed intergenerational neighborhood adheres especially well to the philosophy of Bruce Perry, Ph.D., senior fellow of the Houston-based Child Trauma Academy, who contends that we do our children a disservice when we segregate them by age, as we do in school. He postulates that a child’s brain develops more fully when the child socializes with adults of all ages, such as “grandparent” adults, as well as children of all ages. Current Alzheimer research also points to the benefits of exposing older adults to younger people.
The concept of an intergenerational neighborhood, serving children and aging adults in a facility that provides both separate and interactive programs for the different generations, is an emerging concept. It fits perfectly with the philosophy of the University of Oklahoma’s research campus, which offers cutting-edge research and a free flow of ideas co-mingling the university and private sector. It also offers a compassionate solution for members of the “sandwich generation,” those individuals who care for both children and aging parents.
Middle Earth is headed toward an extraordinary future–a future that requires your assistance to become a reality. You can have a hand in our future.
“In these times when many families are separated by distance, intergenerational interactions allow children and seniors to share valuable lessons. I think this is one way in which we can help children learn to value their elders. In addition, it gives seniors a chance to share their knowledge with children. This gives life meaning and meaning to life.”
Mary Ann Bergman, Early Care & Education of Children Instructor, Moore Norman Technology Center, retired
Please visit the “Support Our Future“ page.
You will see we have provided a convenient and secure online giving opportunity.
Middle Earth is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Donors may deduct contributions to Middle Earth as provided in section 170 of the (IRS) Code.
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