Wonder & Wisdom: An Intergenerational Program
Drummoyne PreSchool and Drummoyne Community Centre are excited to announce a partnership in launching our Intergenerational program, “Wonder and Wisdom”.
Public interest in intergenerational relationships, such as that shown on ABC’s “Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds” and “Old People’s Home for Teenagers” has grown over the years as awareness of the value of intergenerational dynamics has grown.
Whether it was the increased confidence and empathy of 4-year olds, or the sense of connection and engagement of seniors, the ABC series documented benefits for all participants.
Social interactions between generations is valuable for all ages, and organisations such as The Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice promote programs and activities that foster these valuable connections. They point to recent research that shows increased well-being and sense of community for seniors, social enrichment and increased empathy in young children. These programs can lead to deeper relationships between families and seniors that continue after the program ends.
Seeing the impact of social isolation on DCC’s senior members heightened during the lockdowns of Covid 19, prompted DCC manager Tracey Sweetman to advocate for this program.
“The area of Canada Bay has seen an increase in inquiries from both seniors and young families, and Drummoyne Community Centre has listened to our local community.”
“It’s a great way for us to offer a sense of belonging for both young families who are seeking a connection with elders, and seniors who may live away from their children and grandkids. By offering our venue and partnering with Drummoyne PreSchool, we can connect young families and seniors in a safe and stable environment. We hope this will be the start of building positive tangible connection between participants. That sense of belonging and positive bonding is what Drummoyne Community Centre is all about.”
Five 1-hour sessions are planned, monitored by accredited educators from the preschool who will be in attendance at every session.
Program begins in early May.
The program will run fortnightly over May and June, details below:
Dates: Wednesdays 3 May, 17 May, 31 May, 14 June and 28 June
Time: 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm
Venue: Drummoyne Community Centre
To RSVP email info@dcc.org.au or call 9719 8102.
Limited transport available.