{"id":165310,"date":"2025-07-16T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=165310"},"modified":"2025-07-19T12:55:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T02:55:10","slug":"playgroup-builds-community-bonds-across-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/playgroup-builds-community-bonds-across-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"Playgroup builds community bonds across generations"},"content":{"rendered":"

AN INTERGENERATIONAL playgroup run through Torquay Community House is helping to build bonds between young children and older community members.<\/p>\n

The free, eight-week program brings together locals of all ages on a Wednesday morning and provides a space for connection, play and learning where relationships grow and laughter fills the halls. A new intake will begin in term three, starting July 23.<\/p>\n

Locals Pip Burley, Heather Moore and two-year-old twins Elijah and Xavier are among those who have been enjoying the program, with the boys taking the opportunity to practice their building skills, while receiving a helping hand from their new friends.<\/p>\n

“We heard about it through Probus,” Moore said. “We get a lot of enjoyment out of it. We don’t have little grandchildren anymore, so it’s nice to spend time with these kids.”<\/p>\n

For Burley, the playgroup provides a welcome chance to slow down and take in small, joyful moments.<\/p>\n

“It’s so interesting watching them do things like building Lego and seeing them think through it and seeing their little brains go round and round,” she said.<\/p>\n

“It’s just brilliant for them to be able to do this, learning how to play with people before they start pre-school and kinder.”<\/p>\n

Both parents and carers have found a strong sense of connection through the program.<\/p>\n

“Initially, I wanted to join because I didn’t have a lot of family here. I also thought it would be good for the kids to expose them to different age groups,” Joni Hurley, the twins’ mother, said.<\/p>\n

“My mum’s just moved here, so she’s come along as well because it’s a great chance for her to meet people. It’s nice for everyone involved.”<\/p>\n

Surf Coast Shire councillor Tony Phelps said intergenerational activities aligned with the work of the shire’s positive ageing advisor committee, which works to foster an age-friendly community where people can age well, where they live. “Community connections are vital for everyone,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It’s great to see this playgroup bringing community members of various ages together.”<\/p>\n

Following the success of the program in Torquay, plans are already under way to establish a similar playgroup in Lorne.<\/p>\n

To register for term three at Torquay Community House, head to thq.fyi\/se\/007975f40375<\/a>, or to express interest in the coming Lorne program, phone the shire’s age-friendly officer on 5261 0600.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AN INTERGENERATIONAL playgroup run through Torquay Community House is helping to build bonds between young children and older community members. The free, eight-week program brings together locals of all ages on a Wednesday morning and provides a space for connection, play and learning where relationships grow and laughter fills the halls. A new intake will […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":165315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-165310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlaygroup builds community bonds across generations - Surf Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An intergenerational playgroup in Torquay is building bonds across ages, fostering community connection and joyful learning.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/playgroup-builds-community-bonds-across-generations\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Playgroup builds community bonds across generations - 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