Gold Coast kindergarten program fosters bonds between three-year-olds and residents at retirement home
There’s up to 80 years’ difference between them but a program connecting kindergarten children with aged care residents has seen special bonds develop. WATCH THE VIDEO.
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THERE is up to 80 years difference between them, but a program connecting kindergarten children with aged care residents is delivering special bonds.
Ashmore Little Scholars visits Hillview Aged Care once a week with a cohort of three-year-olds, an initiative that brightens the days of the elderly and teaches children how to interact with a different generation.
Hillview staff member Robbie Popple said the meet-up often brought reserved residents out of their shell.
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“Some people that won’t come out for an activity will come because there is children,” she said.
“Some residents might be a bit agitated and isolated, it brings them out and brings on memories of their own children.
“Everyone loves a little child. It also helps with their cognitive skills and emotional skills. They reminisce about their own grandchildren.”
The Little Scholars early learning group has been visiting aged care centres for many years, long before the hit ABC docuseries Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds aired this year. It followed the friendships formed between young children visiting a retirement village.
“It’s created a special little relationship between our service and Hillview,” Ashmore Little Scholars centre manager Holly Edwards said.
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“We have children come in that go ‘poppy’, ‘nanny’, ‘grandma’, which is really sweet to see them connecting that link.
“We also wanted to explore what the residents were interested in, and the big one was bingo. So we’ve also played bingo with them. That was quite an experience.”
Pat Eichhorn, 88, looks forward to the children’s visit every week.
“I think it’s lovely,” she said. “I like this little one very much because she’s clever.”
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