Grandkids, grandparents bond during gingerbread house party

Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. hosted its “Grandkid and Gingerbread House Party” on Monday morning to strengthen family bonds while imparting lessons.

For École Harrison Grade 8 student Carter Wong, the highlight of the intergenerational event was the time he spent with grandmother.

“We made gingerbread houses with our grandparents,” he told the Sun. “It was fun. It was a good time to spend with my grandma.”

Carter said the lesson was straightforward but enjoyable.

“I guess I just learned how to make a good gingerbread house,” he said. “The experience itself made it special, and it was a fun time.”

Patience was a key takeaway for Valleyview Centennial School Grade 7 student Payton Klaassen, who said building a gingerbread house alongside her grandmother required slowing down.

“It was really fun, and I enjoyed building one with my grandma,” she said. “I learned that I need to have a lot of patience to build it.”

She described the gathering as “a great experience” and said she would gladly participate again.

École Harrison Grade 6 student Delaney Wong described the activity as “memorable” because of who she shared it with.

“I made a gingerbread house with my grandma, and it was a lot of fun,” she said. “I have made gingerbread before, but this is the first time I am using it to build a house. This experience was enjoyable.”

For grandparents, the event carried a deeper meaning tied to family and shared memories.

Lorraine Collet, who attended with her grandchildren, said the day was particularly special because it was her first time building a gingerbread house.

“I find it really exciting because coming with my two grandkids and building gingerbread houses for the first time for myself,” she said. “Just seeing all the kids here and enjoying themselves, building houses. They were so excited that they actually built one on their own.”

She said the experience left a lasting impression.

“It means that I’ll be doing it again,” she said. “It was great, actually.”

The activity captured the essence of family togetherness, Linda Kitz, another grandmother, told the Sun.

While she did not build a house herself, she supported her grandchildren as they worked.

“My three grandchildren each made one, and I held the pieces together for them,” she said. “The exercise means family and being together. And it was a nice experience.”

The gingerbread house party is part of a broader push by the seniors co-op to expand intergenerational programming in the community, program and community wellness co-ordinator Veronica Strain told the Sun.

The idea grew out of the organization’s long-running Sage Sprouts intergenerational program, which has gained momentum in recent months, she said.

“In this past six months, I’d say we’ve really amped things up,” Strain said. “The kids were enjoying it so much. The grandparents were enjoying it so much. We really couldn’t see an end in sight … and then we had so much fun.”

She said about 80 grandparents and students took part in the gingerbread house party, a turnout she described as “impressive.”

“We are thrilled to have so many seniors in the community who are interested in getting out and involved in this way, and so many children who really, really enjoy it,” she said. “The timing was especially meaningful during the busy holiday season because it’s close to Christmas. We all get busy shopping and things, so it’s nice to carve out the time.”

Strain said the gingerbread house event is just the beginning.

“We would love to do (gingerbread houses) again next year,” she said. “But there’s going to be so many more intergenerational events between now and then. It’s whatever the community wants, whatever the seniors want, whatever the children want.”

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