How to Organise and Run Meaningful Intergenerational Activity Sessions
Bringing children and older adults together can create powerful, uplifting moments, joy, curiosity, and quiet smiles that ripple through everyone involved. Whether in a care home, a community centre or a local school, intergenerational sessions offer more than just a pleasant visit. Done well, they provide connection, build empathy, and can even support emotional and cognitive wellbeing — especially for people living with dementia.
Why It Matters
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Enhances wellbeing and reduces loneliness. Research shows that shared experiences boost mood for both residents and children, sparking alertness, laughter, and a sense of shared purpose .
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Supports dementia-aware interaction. With dementia, conversation and memory can be difficult. Intergenerational sessions invite a deeper kind of communication, through touch, music, story and presence, without relying on memory or complex language .
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Helps younger generations grow. For children and teens, working with older adults builds patience, listening skills, and appreciation for life’s different stages.
Where the Real Work Happens
Intergenerational Activities Course
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Successful sessions don’t just happen. They are built around:
Careful planning
Choosing age-appropriate activities that align with your residents’ needs.
Thoughtful facilitation
Balancing structure and spontaneity, encouraging moments of connection.
Safety and consent
Checking permissions, supervision, and clarity around inclusion.
Reflection and follow‑up
Capturing moments with photos, notes or artefacts, then using them to deepen future sessions.
These aren’t complex steps — but they’re essential to making every interaction matter.
A Gentle Path to Getting Started
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Aim for small and simple: a shared craft, a sing‑along, or a quiet reading session.
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Take time to prepare both groups: children should know what to expect, and residents should be supported to take part in whatever way suits them.
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Always reflect afterwards: noting what worked, what moved people, and what you’ll try next.
Examples of Simple Intergenerational Activities
A Few Activity Ideas to Start With
You don’t need elaborate plans to create a meaningful session. Here are a few starting points that work well across age groups:
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Crafting Together – Simple card-making, sponge stamping, or collage
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Shared Reading – Children reading to residents, or vice versa
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Music & Movement – Parachute games, rhythm sticks, sing-alongs
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Story Swap – “What was your school uniform like?” or “What did you have for lunch at school?”
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Gentle Gardening – Potting herbs, planting flowers, watering together
Keep it simple, stay flexible, and focus on the moments of connection. Everything else is just the frame.
Want to Go Further?
If you’d like to build confidence, understanding, and clarity around intergenerational work, especially when involving people living with dementia, take a look at our new Planning & Leading Intergenerational Activities course.
We share templates, planning tools, session ideas, and guidance rooted in real care settings. It's not a training day rolled into one; it’s a practical, supportive guide for doing it well, over time.
Explore Our Integenerational Course
Intergenerational sessions can be some of the most moving, memorable moments in a care setting but they don’t happen by accident. This course gives you the tools, templates, and practical guidance to plan and lead sessions that are safe, meaningful, and deeply rewarding for everyone involved
Planning & Leading Intergenerational Activities
Intergenerational Activities Course
