Intergeneration Month

Categories:: Relationship
Tags:: Activities Family Friendship
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every September
Holiday emoji:: 🤝

Intergeneration Month champions the power of cross-age connections every September. This month encourages individuals, families, and communities to engage in activities that foster mutual respect and learning between different age groups. Discover ways to connect, share stories, and build stronger bonds across generations.

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Expected Intergeneration Month Deals

Intergeneration Month focuses on fostering connections rather than commercial deals, with many organizations promoting awareness and engagement initiatives throughout September. Nonprofits like the Intergenerational Foundation and Generations United often highlight programs that bring together youth and seniors, offering educational resources and volunteer opportunities. Libraries, museums, and community centers, such as those affiliated with the American Library Association and American Association of Museums, host special events designed to unite various age groups. Look for local workshops, storytelling sessions, and mentorship programs. We will update this page with confirmed live events and awareness campaigns as September approaches.

Platform Guide for Intergeneration Month

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #IntergenerationMonth. Share stories of successful cross-generational mentorships or workplace initiatives.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #IntergenerationMonth. Share photos and videos of family activities or community events that bring different ages together.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #IntergenerationMonth. Post quick tips for bridging generational gaps or highlight inspiring intergenerational projects.

Intergeneration Month Hero

Angus Hanton

Angus Hanton is a co-founder of the Intergenerational Foundation, the UK-based think tank that launched Intergeneration Month. As an advocate for intergenerational fairness, Hanton has championed research and policies aimed at ensuring a balanced future for all age groups. His work emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the economic and social challenges faced by different generations.

Intergeneration Month timeline

2012

Expanded to a month

Intergeneration Day was expanded to Intergeneration Month, now held each September.

October 1, 2000

Intergeneration Day launched

The Foundation Institute (now call the Intergenerational Foundation) launched Intergeneration Day on the first Sunday of October.

August 4, 1997

A good, long life

Frenchwoman Jean Calment passed away at the age of 122 years and 165 days. She's widely believed to have had the longest lifespan of any person in history.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Intergeneration Month

Local businesses can embrace Intergeneration Month by hosting events that encourage cross-generational interaction. Cafes might offer ‘storytelling hours’ where seniors share life experiences with younger patrons, or bookstores could host intergenerational book clubs. Community centers can organize skill-sharing workshops, pairing experienced mentors with eager learners. Retailers can create themed displays that highlight products appealing to diverse age groups, fostering conversations and shared interests among shoppers.

Intergeneration Month FAQs

When is Intergeneration Month?

Intergeneration Month 2026 runs throughout September. This annual observance encourages people of all ages to connect, learn, and share experiences, strengthening community bonds.

How many generations are typically recognized today?

While definitions can vary, five primary generations are often recognized in contemporary society: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials (Generation Y), Generation Z, and Generation Alpha. Each cohort possesses distinct characteristics shaped by historical events and technological advancements.

What are the benefits of intergenerational programs?

Intergenerational programs offer numerous benefits, including reducing social isolation for older adults, enhancing learning and development for younger generations, and fostering a stronger sense of community. They facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills, and cultural heritage.

How can I participate in Intergeneration Month?

You can participate by initiating conversations with people from different age groups, volunteering for intergenerational programs at local schools or senior centers, or attending community events designed to bring generations together. Sharing stories and skills is a great start.

How to Observe Intergeneration Month

Visit or volunteer at a retirement home
As we get older, we become less mobile and thus more isolated. Call your local rest or retirement home and find out if there are ways you can connect with elderly residents through volunteering or just offering friendship.
Join a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program
Kids say the darndest things, but they can also teach us some things. Big Brothers programs offer opportunities to connect with younger generations while helping at-risk kids navigate the tricky territory of their lives. This also might land you a lifelong friend.
Call your mother or grandmother
If you're lucky enough to have parents or grandparents still alive, make it a point to connect and communicate them with more frequently. Offer to cook them dinner or to step out with them for a glass of wine. Don't take them for granted.

5 Ways To Reach Across Generations

Compromise on communications methods
Older generations tend to value face-to-face communication while millennials prefer text or instant messaging. In order for successful communication to happen both sides need to make compromises about how they'll come together.
Start with an icebreaker
Especially in group settings, kick off conversations with icebreakers that approach talking about generational difference with a sense of humor.
Buy them a beer
Having conversations in social settings can be less intimidating — and a beer or two might decrease apprehension.
Drop your assumptions
Don't go into a conversation with someone from a different generation assuming the generalities of what you've read, especially from marketers. Allow the individual you're conversing with to share their story and their experiences without interjecting opinions.
Find a shared subject of interest or hobby
The more you know someone, the more ways you might discover to connect with them. Beneficial relationships are often based on shared interests.

Why Intergeneration Month is Important

Conversation equals learning
When we talk to each other we learn from each other. Intergeneration Month spurs conversations that can lead to a better understanding of history — as well as the challenges that may separate one generation from the next.
Bust the stereotypes
Marketers like to assign certain traits to different generations to help them think through strategies. While generalities may be helpful, they're not universal. Intergenerational conversations can help shatter assumptions and bring people of different ages together.
It leads to unlikely friendships
The events sponsored during Intergeneration Month spawn unlikely friendships because they bring people together who might not otherwise come in contact with each other. There are countless stories of unlikely friendships being established because of Intergeneration Month activities.