By Callum Ludwig
Community connections across generations are being created through a restarted initiative across the Yarra Ranges.
Marking Cultural Diversity Week, diverse families from Yarra Ranges Council’s Supported Playgroups and senior citizens from the Social Support Groups came together for a morning of playtime and fun on Tuesday 14 March.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Playgroup & Early Years Community Support Team Leader Rakhi Khanna said there are benefits for both seniors, parents and children, with the most important aspect being that it is breaking social isolation.
“For many of our families, don’t have grandparents living in Australia, so it’s great for the young families to make the connection with the seniors and have an elderly figure to start that,” she said.
“For the seniors, as well as that connection they get an increased feeling of purpose, we have seen the joy and the sparkle in them when they are interacting with the little child, it brings back a lot of memories from their own parenting.”
The families are from a variety of different cultural backgrounds including the Hakha Chin and Zomi Chin people from Myanmar as well as India.
Ms Khanna said the group shows that it takes a village to raise a child.
“It is creating a cohesive community and gets them interacting with more adults and community members, which is very important for creating a secure attachment and relationship base,” she said.
“Young toddlers are on their journey of developing their speech and language and they are hearing different words and songs from the seniors as well and that will really enhance their speech and language development.”
A twelve-month pilot program of intergenerational pilot was successfully run in 2019, but the program has been on hold since due to the Covid pandemic, but regular sessions are expected throughout 2023.
Coordinator of the Social Support program Heather Barr said their aim is to keep people out of nursing homes where they can by providing physical and cognitive stimulation and fun for elderly citizens still living at home.
‘A lot of the seniors do not see their grandchildren due to busy families or family breakdowns etc but they just come alive around children, and I’ve heard them being asked advice by the parent so they feel like they are valued and have something to contribute,” she said.
“We’re a time in a society where there are more one-person households than ever, of any age group and some people have forgotten how to socialise a little bit so this is a really nice, gorgeous and organic human interaction, which is great to see.”
A variety of arts and crafts and toys were provided for attendees to participate in and enjoy.
Mother Sui Ngun Bor Liam said she wanted her daughter ThaTha to develop and interact in places with others, rather than being bored at home.
“She was born just before lockdowns, so she’s very scared when we go outside and when she meets people, even when doors open she is really scared of it. I want her to improve and develop her social skills and of course, language and communication as well,” she said.
“When we first joined the playgroup, she always cried but now when we sing a song or are dancing, sometimes she will come and enjoy it which is lovely.”
