The Grandparent Connection School Program aims to enhance the engagement between grandparents and grandchildren by providing workshops that help grandparents understand their grandchildren's education and emotional development. Research supports that intergenerational programs benefit both older adults and youth, improving health outcomes, academic performance, and social skills. The program is adaptable to school needs and can foster stronger family connections, volunteerism, and community ties.

1. © 2017 Jerry Witkovsky and Deanna Shoss
dshoss@interculturaltalk.com ·773.968.1216
Grandparent Connection School Program-Research
Jerry Witkovsky
Author of The Grandest Love: Inspiring the Grandparent-Grandchild
Connection and The Grandparent Connection School Kit
Deanna Shoss
President and CEO
Intercultural Talk, Inc.

2. What is the Grandparent Connection
School Program?
When grandparents better understand what their grandchildren are learning at school, including not only subject matter but also the
emotional, intellectual and social skills/development that their grandchild experiences as they grow toward young adulthood, they can
better enter their grandchild’s world and engage in meaningful discussions and connections. Research shows this makes families
stronger, increases positive perceptions of aging and more deeply engages grandparents with the mission and success of their
grandchild’s school
Typically* the Grandparent Connection School Program launches with a Grandparents Day even in the fall and continues with five
onsite, facilitated workshops in the spring, including:
 Session 1: Understanding Your Grandchild’s World
This session for grandparents will focus on the developmental stages as children grow-up, as well as popular culture and what
their grandchildren may be listening to, watching and reading.
 Session 2: Story Telling
This session is for grandparents and grandchildren together. This interactive workshop will use the model of storytelling to more
deeply connect grandparents and grandchildren.
 Session 3: Teaching Values from Generation to Generation
This session for grandparents covers definition of values and tactics for passing values, not just valuables, from generation to
generation.
 Session 4: Intergenerational Communication and Generational Empathy
This session draws from best practices in Diversity and Inclusion that has been helping generations appreciate one another in
the workplace. This session is for grandparents and grandchildren to learn together. Parents are welcome to attend as well.
 Session 5: Celebration of Success
We invite everyone, grandparents, parents and grandchildren to join together for a celebration of completion at the end of the
program.
*There is flexibility to adapt the program to the needs of the school. Additional components may include a Grandparents Page on the
school website, a newsletter, a volunteer program, speakers bureau and more. Book it now! Email dshoss@interculturaltalk.com.

3. RESEARCH BASE
What is the value of a grandparent program in the school environment?

4. Research shows that intergenerational
programs benefit older adults in important ways.
“Watching a
17-year-old
take their
grandparent
by the hand
and walk
them around
…it’s one of
the best
things we’ve
ever done.”
-Public School
Enhancing Socialization: Older adults want to remain productive and engaged in the
community. A way to prevent isolation in their later years is to increase interaction with
children and youth. (Carlson M., Seeman T., & Fried L.P., 2000)
Stimulating Lifelong Learning: Older adults learn new innovations and technologies from
their younger counterparts. They want to continue to use the skills they have acquired in
their lifetimes as well as acquire new ones. Motivation and commitment to intergenerational
programs comes when they feel they have taken part in their development.
Increasing Emotional Support: Regular participation in structured social and productive
activities and membership in large social networks have been shown to independently
benefit health and functional outcomes as people age.
Improving Health Outcomes:
o Active, engaged older adults remain in better health. Older adults who volunteer live longer and with
better physical and mental health than their non-volunteering counterparts.
o Regularly volunteers with children burn 20% more calories per week, experienced fewer falls, were
less reliant on canes, and performed better on a memory test than their peers.
o Those with dementia or other cognitive impairments demonstrate more gains during interactions
with children than during non-intergenerational activities.

5. We know that intergenerational programs benefit
older adults in important ways.
“This was an
enriching,
rewarding
program. As
well we know
our
grandchild,
we were
thrilled to see
her in her
every day
life. Thank
you!”
-Grandparent
Enhancing Socialization: Older adults want to remain productive and engaged in the
community. A way to prevent isolation in their later years is to increase interaction with
children and youth. (Carlson M., Seeman T., & Fried L.P., 2000)
Stimulating Lifelong Learning: Older adults learn new innovations and technologies from
their younger counterparts. They want to continue to use the skills they have acquired in their
lifetimes as well as acquire new ones. Motivation and commitment to intergenerational
programs comes when they feel they have taken part in their development. (Butts, Donna M.)
Increasing Emotional Support: Regular participation in structured social and productive
activities and membership in large social networks have been shown to independently benefit
health and functional outcomes as people age. (Gladd, T.A., 2003)
Improving Health Outcomes:
o Active, engaged older adults remain in better health. Older adults who volunteer live
longer and with better physical and mental health than their non-volunteering
counterparts.
o Regularly volunteers with children burn 20% more calories per week, experienced
fewer falls, were less reliant on canes, and performed better on a memory test than
their peers.
o Those with dementia or other cognitive impairments demonstrate more gains during
interactions with children than during non-intergenerational activities.
(Fried, L.P. et al, March 2004; Jarrott, S. & Bruno, K., 2003)

6. But it also generates well-documented and
measurable value for students…
“I love getting
to walk around
and meet other
people's
grandparents!
I love the
program and I
know my
grandma had
so much fun.”
-Student, class
of 2017
Improving Academic Performance: In schools where older adults volunteer regularly (15
hours per week) children had more improved reading scores compared with peers at other
schools. (Teale, W.H., 2003 and Rebok, G.W., et al, March 2004)
Enhancing Social Skills: Interacting with older adults enables youth to develop social
networks, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, positive attitudes towards aging, a
sense of purpose and community service. (Corporation for National and Community Service,
November 2005)
Promoting self-esteem: Young children who interact with older adults in a co-located
facility, or shared site, experienced higher personal and social development by 11 months
compared to children in non-intergenerational facilities. (Rosebrook, V., 2006)
Decreasing Negative Behavior: Youth involved in intergenerational mentoring programs
are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, and
52% less likely to skip school. (Tierney, J.P. & Grossman, J.B. with Resch, N., 2000)
Increasing Stability: Children and youth gain positive role models with whom they can
interact on a regular basis. They develop many positive relationships to civic attitudes and
behaviors including volunteering habits, sense of efficacy and trust. (Corporation for National
and Community Service, 2006)

7. …while creating real value for schools and the
wider community.
“Some inter-
generational
initiatives
galvanize
elders to serve
kids; some
galvanize kids
to serve
elders…
Everybody has
something to
give.”
-Generations
United
Maximizing Human/Other Resources:
o Engaging older adults and youth as volunteers
o Encouraging Cultural Exchange: transmission of cultural traditions and
values from older to younger generations, building a sense of personal
and societal identity while encouraging tolerance
Strengthening Community Connections:
o Bringing together diverse groups and networks
o Helping to dispel inaccurate and negative stereotypes
o Sharing talents and resources help to create a unified group identity
o Reducing isolation/alienation across age groups, showing that
children, youth and elders can contribute
o Preserve historical and cultural traditions, enhance community spirit
o Strengthen partnerships among community organizations and
individuals
(Source: Grandparents United)

8. What kinds of concrete value can schools expect
to generate through establishing intergenerational
programming?
“I had wonderful
conversations
with my grand-
daughter about
school, her
activities, what
she loves about
school, her
teachers, her
friends. No
interruptions. No
TV. No phone.
Just enjoying
our day.”
-Grandparent
1. Increased fundraising: measure changes in grandparent donors
and donations
2. Growing volunteerism: More grandparents bringing their skills to
bear within and outside of the classroom (mentoring, tutoring,
specialized after school workshops, in-class presentations, etc.)
3. Building leadership: recruiting for board of directors from
grandparent pool
4. Encouraging multi-generational loyalty: Incorporate grandparent
engagement into alumni outreach and activities to enhance
participation across generations within families
5. Growing alumni network: current and alumni grandparents
staying connected through attendance at special
intergenerational programming at school

9. Participant Feedback
What do we know about past participants of the program?

10. Who are Grandparents, and what is the
potential power of engaging grandparents in
your school?
In 2016 we conducted an evaluation following a grandparent program in a North
Suburban high school, collecting surveys from 115 grandparents and 86
grandchildren.
The results, some of which are captured here, show a great value for the school in hosting a
Grandparent program, including:
 Increased support network for students in school
 Deeper familial connections
 A broad skillset from Grandparents for enriching school and after-school experiences
 Potential to build the community of support for the school beyond students and parents
The program is especially enriching for students. When asked why they personally invited their
grandparents, grandchildren tended to respond most in four ways:
 I love them!
 Quality time: it is something that I wanted to do with them.
 Shared experience: I wanted to show them what it is like at school.
 Enjoyment: I thought they/I would like it.
10

11. Grandparents are willing to travel, sometimes from
out of country, to connect with their grandchildren
in their school environment.
11
1%
43%
29%
11%
13%
2% 1%
Distance Traveled to Participate…
Walking Distance
Less than 20 minute drive
20 to 45 minute drive
More than 45 minute drive
Out of State
Out of country
n/a

12. Grandparents make up a dramatically wide age
range, from 45 years old to more than 85; but the
majority of grandparents are 65-84
1% 3%
29%
55%
8%
4%
45-54
55-64
65-74
75-84
85+
n/a
12
Ages of Grandparents…

13. Grandparents fill a number of occupations that may prove useful
to schools, whether through skills-based volunteering or to
deepen curricula. Many grandparents were former educators
themselves*
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
13
*n125, 70% response rate to occupational data

14. Both Grandparents and Grandchildren find mutually
positive connections as a result of coming together within
the school environment.
 Grandparents feel a stronger family
connection and understand the school
better.
 Grandchildren feel a deeper connection to
grandparents and a historical
understanding of how school has changed
over time.
14
I learned
something new
about my
grandparent/
special guest that
will build a
stronger
connection
between us.
I learned something
new about my
grandparent/ special
guest's experience in
school that was
similar to mine.
Strongly
Agree 37% 38%
Agree 40% 42%
Neutral 17% 14%
Disagree 2% 3%
Strongly
Disagree 2% 1%
I learned
something new
about my
grandchild/
student that will
build a stronger
connection.
I have a better
understanding of my
grandchild's / student's
experience at school.
Strongly
Agree 45% 57%
Agree 40% 37%
Neutral 9% 3%
Disagree 1% 0%
Strongly
Disagree 0% 0%

15. Jerry Witkovsky Deanna Shoss
jwitkovsky@att.net dshoss@interculturaltalk.com
847.317.0581 773.968.1216
www.grandparentsunleashed.com
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