Since February 2024, I’ve been working with Drummond Grange Care Home to deliver intergenerational workshops. Initially, these sessions involved bringing a group of nursery children to the care home to participate in activities alongside the residents. Over time, this evolved into a community class held within the care home, incorporating residents into the sessions.
Drummond Grange is unique as it is the only ventilator-trained care home in Scotland, catering to adults aged 18 to 108. This incredible range of ages creates a vibrant energy during our intergenerational workshops. This month’s theme was The Gingerbread Man – a classic story that many people are familiar with.
Why The Gingerbread Man?
This story works beautifully in an intergenerational setting because it includes animals, active movements, and a repetitive pattern. Repetition is especially engaging for children and adults with learning disabilities, making it a perfect choice.
It’s heart-warming to witness relationships and confidence grow over time – not just for the children and families who attend, but also for the residents. The predictable structure of Boogie Beat sessions creates a sense of safety and familiarity, allowing everyone to participate fully.
After nearly a year of monthly sessions, many residents now recognise our Boogie Beat songs, such as the welcome song, the Boogie Beat Shake, and the Giggles the Boogie Monkey dance. It’s wonderful to see them actively joining in.
Encouraging Interaction
One of the most rewarding aspects of these workshops is watching the interactions between children and adults develop. For example, when handing out instruments, we encourage children to take instruments to their “friends” (the residents). This small act of choosing and delivering an instrument fosters meaningful exchanges, such as saying “thank you” and “you’re welcome.”
We also consider the residents’ needs, discussing with the children which instruments might best suit someone’s hand grip. This approach teaches children about inclusion and diversity from a young age, helping them to recognise and respond to others’ needs.
A New Twist on an Old Tale
When I was a child, the fox in The Gingerbread Man always gobbled up the gingerbread man at the end. Nowadays, I’ve told the story in nurseries where the gingerbread man cleverly escapes the fox. However, in this intergenerational workshop, we let the children decide the story’s ending.
We began the session with a warm-up song, If You’re Happy and You Know It, giving each child the chance to choose an action for everyone to follow. This not only helps everyone learn the children’s names but also shows the children that their opinions matter and will be listened to.
When it came to the story, the children decided that the fox would eat the gingerbread man after all! They delighted in pretending to snap him up, adding plenty of giggles and smiles. I loved seeing their enthusiasm and creativity as they acted it out.
We also discussed the ingredients needed to bake a gingerbread man, drawing on the children’s experiences of baking at home or in nursery. This added a sensory element to the story, helping to bring it to life.
Wrapping Up with Songs
At the end of every Boogie Beat workshop, we sing songs linked to the theme. For this session, the children took turns selecting items from the toy box for us to sing about. The smaller group size allowed everyone to have a turn, creating a personal and inclusive experience.
The Benefits of Intergenerational Workshops
I absolutely love running intergenerational workshops and believe they are hugely beneficial for everyone involved. The children gain confidence and learn about inclusion, while the residents experience joy, connection, and a sense of purpose. Even the care home activities coordinators join in, encouraging residents to participate in ways that suit their abilities.
If you’d like to find out more about our intergenerational workshops, check out our other blog posts on different themes. · https://boogiebeat.co.uk/building-connections-across-generations/ · https://boogiebeat.co.uk/boogie-beat-intergenerational-benefits/ · https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/magic-intergenerational-boogie-beat-workshops-mairi-curle-wz0gf/?trackingId=gCvCJk50Rf6h1mbnHyGewA%3D%3D&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_recent_activity_content_view%3By87vqCQnSdepS9bP80rVkw%3D%3D · https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/intergenerational-workshops-reflections-jack-beanstalk-mairi-curle-28dmf/?trackingId=gCvCJk50Rf6h1mbnHyGewA%3D%3D
Alternatively, if you’d like us to visit your care home, please get in touch using the details on your nearest Boogie Beat page!
Written by Mairi Curle – Owner of Boogie Beat Edinburgh, Mid and East Lothian
