Marilyn's Lifelong Educational Center (MLLEC)

Imagine a place where a 98-year old is feeding an infant, where an 87-year old is sharing her walker with a youngster who's just learning to walk, and where a 4-year old suddenly discovers that her 78-year old friend has to take out his teeth to brush them. Imagine a place where people of all ages come together, interacting, exploring, and guiding. Imagine a place where people build meaningful relationships.

In the past, there was such a place - the family home - where the job of raising young Children and caring for Elders occurred under one roof. The current setting looks much different. Typically, it's paid staff that care for the young and old in child care centers and nursing homes.

Now imagine a brighter future, today.

The power of combining two populations at opposite ends of the age spectrum is realized at Marilyn's Lifelong Educational Center (MLLEC). Owned and operated by the Macklin Intergenerational Institute, the center is located in Birchaven Retirement Village. Daily, Children and Elders come together in a home-like setting referred to as the FamilyRoom Approach™. In this relaxed environment that emulates the family home, interaction is emphasized and multi-age relationships are built. It is not all uncommon to find a grandpa feeding a baby, a grandma rocking a toddler, or several preschool Children folding clothes with the Elders from the Julien Faisant Adult Day Center. It's all a part of the spontaneity of everyday life that occurs naturally within the center. Through observational research, the Macklin Intergenerational Institute identified that the FamilyRoom Approach™ is the best environment in which to cultivate meaningful age-integrated experiences because learning through routine and ordinary experiences in a setting that allows everyone involved the opportunuity to be comfortable and feel relaxed, provides more opportunities for Children to discover the world and for Elders to rediscover it.

MLLEC is state licensed by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services to serve Children ages six weeks to 5 years of age. The center is open year-round, Monday through Friday, 6:00am until 6:00pm. Part of what makes this center so special is the relationships developed between Children and Elders. Guides are cross-trained to work with the children and Elders, helping to develop relationships and facilitate the types of activities that encourage this to happen.

For more information, please call or stop out and see us.

Marilyn's Lifelong Educational Center
15100 Birchaven Lane
Findlay, Ohio
419-425-3049
Childcare Director