‘Beautiful experience’: Elders, kids share special joy
Tears glisten in Aunt Doreen’s eyes, but she also has a bright smile on her face as she watches the children playing around her.
Children at the Aboriginal Elders Village north of Adelaide are among Elders hosting a first-of-its-kind intergenerational playgroup first birthday celebration for their parents and carers.
“Marra Elders Playgroup is a connection to family, a connection to Country and culture,” village manager Ingrid Coad told AAP.
“Many of our Rezzi (residents) have no family or the families live far away, in the APY Lands.
“So it’s like playing with their grandchildren; it’s about communication, talking to each other and speaking with language.”
The village at Davoren Park is Adelaide’s only Indigenous-only aged care facility. It currently has 20 residents and capacity for up to 30.
When children arrive for a fortnightly one-hour session, the joy in the air is palpable and the entire room of Elders, caregivers, children, parents and staff are smiling broadly.
Playgroup SA facilitator Sophie Robinson sings songs to the children and Kantyupai Auntie Robin, known as Nanna K, repeats them in Pitjantjatjara.
He comes from Fregon in the APY Lands and says he learned to sing the songs while teaching.
Run in collaboration with Aboriginal Community Services, Playgroup SA and local cultural community centre, Marra Dreaming, the playgroup brings together elders and children for painting, cooking, storytelling, music and weaving.
The fun starts long before the kids arrive, as adults help make playdough and paintable clay animals.
“We often build shock absorbers together; that’s Nanna K’s specialty,” Ms. Coad said.
Mrs. Robinson sings a happy birthday song to the group, shares a storybook she wrote for the occasion, and then the children happily blow out the candles on the cake tray before helping to distribute the cakes to the Grown-ups.
Betty, who is about to turn 92, plays the Adelaide Crows theme song on her harmonica and says Tex Walker is her favorite player.
Marra Dreaming founding member Raylene Snow, Betty’s daughter, said it was “such a beautiful experience.”
“It applies not only to children, but also to all adults,” he said.
He said the playgroup was “a creative space that allows intergenerational connections to happen in a positive way and it’s wonderful to witness that.”
Ms Coad said the playgroup had grown considerably in its first year.
“Kids learn from Grownups; they’re not afraid to go up to Grandmas and sit on their laps and read a story; it just creates a bond.
“A lot of our residents are in wheelchairs or princess chairs and they can’t get out, so why not bring the kids in here?”
Playgroup SA chief executive Craig Bradbrook, who often brings his guitar with him and chides Danny Boy, said intergenerational playgroups have grown significantly in recent years due to their proven benefits for children, older people and communities.
“Programs like this create opportunities for children to connect not only with their parents and caregivers, but also with older generations who bring warmth, encouragement and lived experiences,” she said.
