Introducing our new intergenerational play sessions at Railway Gardens
Are you a parent or carer with pre-school age children?
Or are you an older person who loves spending time with little ones?
On the last Wednesday of the month our regular Natter with Neighbours coffee morning becomes Oaks and Acorns – an all ages play session! Each month we’ll be providing different ways for older and younger visitors to have fun together through games, gardening, music, craft and more.
Drop in for a cuppa, a chat and the chance to get playful! Refreshments are provided.
What is intergenerational play?
Quite simply, intergenerational play means kids and adults playing, exploring, and creating together!
Play has so many benefits for every generation. Children learn through play, developing a whole range of skills from communication and social skills to creativity and safe risk taking. Undirected and open play gives children the chance to explore their world and develop independence, but playing with adults brings a lot of benefits too; research shows that children display higher levels of language and problem solving skills when playing together with adults, and play across generations tends to shift from being a competitive activity to a more playful one.
But it’s not just the kids who benefit; play reduces stress in older people, supports memory, and helps with relaxation. It can also act as a gentle, low impact way of getting up and moving. Getting together for a cup of tea and some play can help reduce loneliness, and it’s a good opportunity for sharing skills across generations too.
Right now we have lots of young people using Railway Gardens, and lots of older people too. Oaks and Acorns is a chance for these groups to get together and enjoy each other’s company!
What will these play sessions look like?
We’ll be mostly basing ourselves in Y Nyth, our accessible outdoor learning space, and in the outdoor spaces at the Gardens. There’s plenty of seating, a large soft mat for babies to play comfortably, accessible toilets with baby changing, and free tea, coffee and biscuits.
For some sessions we’ll have guests joining us to lead exciting activities, at others we’ll be gardening and crafting together. As well as structured activities you can simply enjoy the gardens, or have fun with the contents of our play shack, a selection of equipment for den building, construction and imaginative play.
If you want to come for the coffee morning but aren’t sure about joining in the activities then please rest assured you can still come and enjoy a cuppa with no pressure to take part in anything.
What's planned for the upcoming sessions?
For our first ever Oaks and Acorns session on January 25th we’ve got something really special planned: Become a sound explorer with Harriet from Fiery Jacks! Travel the globe singing songs, playing instruments and learning about all sorts of strange and wonderful sounds in this musical adventure!
Then join us in February for the unique Games Museum – a rare collection of games from throughout time! Harriet will be on hand to tell their stories as you learn Viking’s Trip Trap Troll or the ancient game of Toad in the Hole! Or have a go at a more familiar game (with an ancient tale!) like Snakes and Ladders. Fun for all ages!
In March we’ll be getting green fingered and doing some seed sowing and garden crafts together.
And in April it’s time to play as Harriet is back for a ton of fun and games! Bring a toy for a teddy bears parade, with playground classics, parachute games, new variations of old favourites that all ages will love.
There’s no need to register for this event but if you are welcome to do so if you’d like to receive an email reminder closer to the time.
Who can come?
Everyone is welcome!
- Parents and carers of babies and pre-school children.
- Older people
- Home schoolers
- Anyone who enjoys play and good company (and biscuits!).
When is this happening?
Oaks and Acorns takes place on the last Wednesday of each month, so our upcoming dates are January 25th, February 22nd, March 29th, April 26th. Sessions start at 10:30am and finish around 12pm. You can come for as much or as little of the session as you like.
Is it free? And do I need to book?
These sessions are free and include free refreshments. This is made possible by the support of Cardiff Council and Natural Resources Wales.
You don’t need to book – just come along! However if you like to receive email reminders closer to the time then you can register here and we’ll send you a reminder.
