TOY
Together Old and Young

Overview

Together Old and Young is an international movement that emphasizes the importance of older and adults and younger children learning together. We promote intergenerational learning to strengthen the connection between the older and younger generations who have had less contact with one another.

This website will provide an example of a TOY interaction that can be utilized in real life.

Find more information about the organization here:

Steps

1. The parent hands over the child to the older adult at the designated TOY station (usually a garden center) and documents how long they will be gone (e.x. 2 hours)


2. The older adult takes the child to the garden center where they decide which fruit or vegetable they will cultivate.


3. The older adult will inform the child about the plant like how long it grows, what it can be used for, etc.


4. Both gather the necessary gardening materials and garden until the allotted time is up.


5. The older adult will bring the child to the parent at the designated time.


6. If the plant is fully grown, the older adult will pick the fruit or vegetable and hand it to the parent.

Gardening is the practice of planting and cultivating a variety of plants including flowers, foliage, vegetables, fruits, and herbs. It is an easy pass time because of how simple the process is and how little tools are needed.

This TOY interaction will focus on the older adult helping the young child cultivate their own fruit or vegetable. The interaction can happen multiple times until the fruit or vegetable is fully developed. When the plant is fully grown, the child and adult can collect them and take them home to enjoy.

This interaction promotes time outdoors, plant education as well as healthy eating.