Intergenerational Care at The Little Bears Nursery

Since Little Bears opened in 2016, we have had a good relationship with the residents of Whiteley Village and we are now in a position to strengthen this relationship further and have more meaningful interaction with the residents which we feel will benefit both the residents and our children alike. We are keen to promote the concept of intergenerational care which was thought to have officially started in Tokyo in 1976, is the practice of bringing the young and elderly together by introducing nurseries and care homes to one another. This new style of care is revolutionising care homes worldwide and participants swear by this practice. Channel 4 previously aired a documentary called ‘Old People’s Home for 4-year old’s’ which boosted the profile of intergenerational care.

At Little Bears Nursery we are looking at ways we can work with residents of the village to improve their quality of life. So far, both Squirrels and Hedgehogs have made visits to the Whiteley Village care home to meet the residents and have spread lots of joy through various interactions including singing which was very well received. According to Age UK, there are numerous studies that show how social interactions between young children and older people cannot only decrease elderly loneliness but can also delay mental decline, lower blood pressure and even reduce the risk of disease and death in elders. Not only does intergenerational care provide advantages for the elderly, but also demonstrates benefits for children. From previous research, it has also been discovered that children involved in intergenerational projects have better reading and communications skills. By talking to older adults, who are likely to use different language to which they’re accustomed, children’s vocabulary will develop along with their confidence too. Intergenerational interventions also have the potential to improve children’s academic, behavioural, social-emotional and motivational outcomes. Particular research identified that through integration with the elderly, young people are able to appreciate the elderly, therefore demonstrating more empathy. At Little Bears we believe it is important to begin intergenerational care early as it can to create opportunities for children to build confidence and communication skills as well as gaining networking and social mobility.

The nursery understands there can be many benefits to intergenerational care and giving back to the community. Therefore, we are planning to add more activities to the children’s schedule such as weeding the allotments and baking cookies for the care home. We hope that the increase in social interaction between Whiteley Village and our Little Bears will not only provide benefits for the older community but also teach the Little Bears valuable lessons.