Lizzie Aylett, 87, has watched the children grow with the same pride as if they were her own in Knox's Intergenerational Playgroup.
She and fellow resident at Glengollan Village in Ferntree Gully, Maureen Lawson, 88, volunteer at the Council-run playgroup, which welcomes parents and carers from the community as well as village residents.
Council started the playgroup as a Playgroup Victoria pilot for Term 1 of 2024, and due to its success it has kept going.
"I'm quite proud of this group," Lizzie says. "It makes me feel I should never have given up work. I worked for 30 years in the same child care centre and I stayed there until I was 76. I see improvements in all these little ones and they mean as much to me as my kids."
Global Intergenerational Week from 24-30 April highlights how Council programs like the playgroup promote understanding and respect between generations through shared activities. The playgroup helps break down social barriers and isolation experienced by new parents and older residents.
Amy Dewitte, 26, is the mother of Jaxon, aged 2 years and 7 months, and twins Bella and Charlette, 1 year and 3 months. She's been coming to the group since the twins were about 4 months old.
"It was a really nice opportunity to get out of the house and come and visit different people," she says. "I also work in aged care so I really like the idea of spending some time with the senior residents, and I think it's really beneficial.
"The children are loving it. Jaxon really looks forward to coming here and he really loves doing all the Play-Doh and cutting and gluing, and the senior residents really interact with him. It's nice. The girls love it - they just enjoy playing."
Maureen says it's like being a grandparent all over again watching the children reach their milestones.
"One special day, when they were just starting to crawl, one of the twins looked at me and said 'I know you' and crawled over to me. That was just very special because they recognise you coming week after week," she says.
"It's just been lovely watching them grow and seeing the twins come from being in their [mother's] arms to crawling to now pulling themselves up. We're waiting for them to take their first steps - and we're hoping that they'll do it here."
The Intergenerational Playgroup meets on Wednesdays from 10am-11.30am (during school term) at Glengollan Village, 97 Underwood Road, Ferntree Gully.
Find out more about this and other intergenerational programs in Knox: knox.vic.gov.au/everyage
