Intergenerational Playgroups for All Ages
Ageless Friendships
Here are some ways you can support and stay connected with isolated older Australians during the coronavirus pandemic.
Staying well, staying positive
Visit Beyond Blue for a guide to coping with coronavirus for older Australians
Physical distancing and isolating yourself from others in the age of COVID-19 is creating new and unique challenges, particularly for older Australians. It’s important to look after yourself, and others while you navigate the journey together but apart.
The Importance of Play
Intergenerational Playgroups, are fast becoming a favourite playgroup for families and communities around Australia. While sharing a similar approach to regular Community Playgroups, Intergenerational Playgroups offer something extra special. Through partnerships with aged care services, retirement villages and seniors’ groups – Intergenerational playgroups are bridging generational gaps to reduce isolation and ageism within local communities. By inviting children, parents, grandparents and caregivers to join together with local residents, Playgroup Australia along with our member State and Territory Organisations, are endeavouring to drive change and bring people from all walks of life together to create a village through play.
Help us Grow
Join an Intergenerational Playgroup
We welcome you to join the growing Intergenerational Playgroup experience. Click below to express your interest in joining a local playgroup.
Make a Donation
Help us establish more Intergenerational Playgroups. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and will go toward helping us support more communities through play.
Start an Intergenerational Playgroup
Starting a new Intergenerational playgroup is incredibly simple! Help us drive positive change for people of all ages.
Click below to register your interest and learn how you can get involved.
Partnering
with the ABC
In partnership with our state and territory organisations and ABC TV + iview, we are delighted to be taking part in a campaign in conjunction with series two, “Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds”, aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of intergenerational care programs and play for all ages.
“While Grandparents add to children’s lives, children add to their grandparents lives too. Many older people say that keeping up with their grandchildren keeps them young.”
– Playgroup Parent
Inspiring Change
The ABC, “Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds” is a series exploring the positive impacts of intergenerational care programs and play for all ages – and the effect on mood, mobility and make believe. The program is designed to drive change to the way we approach aged care programs and ageism. In series one, ABC follows the experiences of aged care residents as they welcome 10 pre-school-aged children through a weekly intergenerational program. In series two the new group of seniors all live in their own homes and they are joined by a lively bunch of 4-year-olds, in a purpose-built pre-school.
The groups are encouraged to take part in activities designed to enrich daily life and provide meaningful interactions between the young and young at heart. The experiment is supported by leading academic Professor in Geriatric Medicine Susan Kurrle, expert Geriatrician Dr Stephanie Ward, Aged Care Physiotherapist Nicola Kertanegara and Child Psychologist Dr Evan Kidd.
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old.
We grow old because we stop playing.”
– George Bernard Shaw,
Playwright
