‘Move and groove’ sessions for young and old in Toronto

The Kipling Early Learning and Child Care Centre in Toronto  is located under the same roof as Kipling Acres Long Term Care Home.  Every Tuesday and Thursday morning preschool aged children share a ‘move and groove’ session with the older people.  Crucially the design of the building also makes possible other spontaneous interaction opportunities in the playground, in common spaces and during story-telling sessions.

The children and their parents as well as the older people and the staff working with both generations are enthusiastic.   Benefits mentioned include children developing empathy and an understanding of the needs of others and social engagement and fun for older people delaying cognitive decline.

View the short video and read more in this article from the Canadian newspaper ‘The Star’ (09/02/2016).