Our Carlton North Early Learning Centre has partnered with Rathdowne Place, a local aged care facility in Carlton North, so that the residents and children can regularly visit each other. After many weeks of planning and many conversations, the passion and dedication of both services made this project actually take place.
On the first visit, eight children from Room 2 and a group of educators ventured out on a chilly morning to explore all the possibilities of an intergenerational adventure.
The visit was a huge success the children and the residents sat and played with the freshly made playdough and fun was had by all. Some of the highlights included:
- Sitting side by side and playing with the dough freely one child and one resident alternating
- Singing an Italian song- Marina Marina
- Making balls and creating a social game of rolling them to one and other
- Making small to large balls of dough and putting them into order according of size
- Using natural materials to make sculptures of all shapes and sizes
- Dancing and singing the chicken dance together as requested by one of the residents
- Meeting Monty the dog who belongs to one of the resident’s children
- Walking to and from the service learning about road safety and what our lovely suburb has to offer
- Learning about respect and kindness
Quote of the day:
Gowrie child: “Can you whistle?’
Rathdowne resident: “No I am afraid I can’t”
Gowrie child: “That’s because you are a little bit old”
Rathdowne resident (laughingly): “You are probably right!”
On the next visit, residents from Rathdowne Place came to our service and they had a ball. We especially loved seeing them arrive and leave in their Rickshaw!
Quote of the day:
When asked what she thought of the children, one resident said, “Lovely, I think they are all beautiful.”
Thank you to everyone who helped make this partnership happen!
