It seems youthfulness is contagious.
Once a week, Selwyn Village is filled with the laughter of little children. Our Baby Buddies programme, sees local parents and their babies and toddlers visit the village. Playing and singing songs with the little ones provides considerable benefits to older people, lifting their spirits, and even easing the symptoms of some age-related illnesses.
Baby Buddies takes the form of a playgroup which is hosted once a week on a rotational basis. Local parents and their toddlers spend up to one hour in a facility, speaking to residents about parenthood, whilst the children interact, play and sing songs.
Whilst the effect of interacting with babies varies depending on factors such as child-rearing experience and gender, the benefits are considerable and include generally lifting people's spirits and easing the symptoms of age-related illnesses.
Baby buddies has been featured on Radio New Zealand and New Zealand Herald.
If you and your child would like to spend time with our residents, contact the Selwyn Village Baby Buddies on their Facebook page.
