Snuggling ensures thriving
Goodstart Early Learning Warragul has partnered with Abbey Gardens Aged Care to deliver a new intergenerational program.
The Snuggle and Thrive program aims to connect older adults from the Abbey Gardens Community with Goodstart's nursery-aged children.
Goodstart educational leader Annie Knox said the program is born out of research on early childhood development. A high level of touch and connection can be difficult to achieve for workers in childcare when caring for numerous children throughout the day, and the program helps the children get extra handson individual attention.
"It's a lovely connection to have," she said.d.
"It's not just for the benefit of the children, but for the residents as well."
The program helps the children with several things, including language development, literacy, and social skills. While the benefits for older adults are, decreased feelings of loneliness, improved physical health, and a sense of purpose and value in the community.
Abbey Gardens resident Tricia Neagle said she loves visiting the children. Her daughter lives overseas, so she said it was nice to be able to interact with kids. In the past, Ms Neagle has participated in similar initiatives with kindergartners, which she said was good. Although she does very much enjoy getting to interact with babies in the Snuggle and Thrive Program.
While she has not attended the program until last week, she said she had heard good reviews from other Abbey Gardens residents who attended in previous weeks.
"It's lovely to get out and have some normality," she said.
Debbie Furnell, a volunteer from Abbey Gardens also attended last week and thinks it is a "fantastic" program.
She said the last time she attended "the whole room was filled with smiles" from the residents and children.
Goodstart's centre director Lynne Heron worked with Ms Knox to get the program up and running, having been part of a similar program at an early learning centre in Yarram.
"Research tells us that it's good for young babies to have touch and cuddle time," she said.
Snuggle and Thrive is intended to be mutually beneficial for the babies and residents.
"It gives the older folk a boost, and the babies love it," Ms Heron said.
"Parents love it, and are excited for their children to have someone to play with."
There are plans for kindergarten-aged children from Goodstart to begin visiting Abbey Gardens and the residents for physical therapy and other activities in the future.