(Back, from left) Deniliquin High School Year 10 student Phoebe Jefferies, Orana resident Frank Morona and Deniliquin Children’s Centre youngster Raimy Henderson; (front left) Darcy Arthur, Hugo Murphy and Teddy Barker.
A local intergenerational program initiated by Deniliquin High School Year 10 child studies class is now underway and exceeding expectations.
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The initiative is a collaboration between Orana Residential Care, the Deniliquin High School child studies class and Deniliquin Children’s Centre.
The children attend Orana and participate in a series of activities with the residents under the guidance of the high school students.
Year 10 child studies teacher Nicole Jenkins said the program has now been running for three weeks, and interest is already growing.
“We have had an increase in residents wanting to participate, and the children have found a connection with the residents and seek them out when returning for the program,” Mrs Jenkins said.
When the Pastoral Times visited on Wednesday morning, all participants were engaging in activities such as games, craft, decorating cupcakes and more.
“I have never played so many games in my life,” Orana resident Val Tasker said.
“I love when the children sing nursery rhymes.”
The games are also a highlight for Children’s Centre student Maggie Kerr, who also said she was enjoying the cupcakes and “making new friends”.
Deniliquin Children’s Centre educator Sara Myatt said she can already see the benefits of the program.
“The children are loving it, and the shy ones are really coming out of their shells,” she said.
“Surprisingly we are finding the more confident children are a little bit more shy, but they are all engaging without educator support which is fantastic.”
Based on the premise of the ABC program Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, the program will run for seven weeks.
Deni High student Phoebe Jefferies said it has already been a great learning experience, feeding into their studies in the classroom.
“I love the initiative,” Phoebe said.
“It’s good for the children and the residents, and its great for us to gauge their development in the program.”
Orana resident Lois Ferguson with Deniliquin High School student Mollie Maher and Paddy Howard from Deniliquin Childrens Centre.
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