Little Hands Wise Hearts- An Intergenerational Journey
The first of its kind Intergenerational program has been commenced at Marketown Shopping Centre in collaboration with Montessori Academy and Anglican Care Newcastle.
Nine residents from Scenic Lodge Merewether attend this session with pre-schoolers from Montessori Academy for a five week program.
Each Thursday, eight to nine Scenic Lodge residents are brought to Marketown Shopping Centre to partake in a fun morning of play and learning with twenty to twenty-five children from Montessori Academy who are a tenant within Marketown.
Each week, the residents arrive at 10AM for morning tea provided by Marketown Shopping Centre before the children join them at 10:30AM for play, stories, and songs. The eight to nine residents who attend are aged between 84 and 95 years old and engage with children 3 to 5 years old.
Many of these residents don’t have family of their own or don’t often see their children who are also senior citizens.
Montessori Academy Nominated Supervisor Vicky Gilbert and her staff have put together the weekly program that incorporates craft stations, puzzles, stories and songs. The program is designed to encourage both the children and the senior residents to engage in the activity.
The memories and lessons from these visits will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on both the children and the residents, demonstrating the power of intergenerational connections.
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