Children’s voice and agency in Intergenerational learning: two new TOY Project-inspired publications
August 26, 2025
This month European Early Childhood Education Research Journal features an open access article by Dr. Anne Fitzpatrick, a founding member of the TOY Project and Dr. Ann Marie Halpenny about children’s voice and agency in research about intergenerational learning (IGL). The article has a focus on the role that early childhood educators play in supporting
New model of childcare, education and senior day care for workplaces in Germany
November 18, 2024
Porto Dome, based in Germany is launching a six-month feasibility study to test an integrated model of childcare, education, and senior day programs within workplaces. The goal is to support employees in balancing caregiving and careers while fostering intergenerational connections and well-being. This study will set the stage for a future pilot project that brings
When the wisdom of age meets the wonder of childhood
October 4, 2024
‘Twelve pre-school children stream down a corridor of a Co Meath nursing home and into the large activities room where more than a dozen residents are eagerly waiting for their arrival’. This was the opening line in a 1-page spread about intergenerational learning as a pedagogical approach, which featured in Ireland’s newspaper of record, The
Call for presentations: Symposium on IG Strategies in Early Childhood, Nov 2024
June 18, 2024
The 1st International Symposium on Intergenerational Strategies in Early Childhood will take place on Sunday, November 24, during the 2024 Bright Start International Conference – Early Years Excellence in Practice, organized by the Bright Start Foundation in partnership with University College London (UCL). The Conference is both Online and In-person and will take place at
Bridging Eastern and Western views on IGL: 2nd International IG Conference
January 29, 2024
On 27 January 2024, 50 scholars and IG leaders came together to present and discuss the latest research and innovation in IGL at the Second International Conference on Intergenerational Learning in Hong Kong. The organisers were the Hong Kong Jockey Club IGL and Reading Project and the Faculty of Education of the University of Hong
New publication: Generations Growing Together. A handbook for practitioners and trainers
January 16, 2024
Generations Growing Together is ‘a book of our time’. New handbook for practitioners and trainers about IGL published today One of the most frequent requests we receive in TOY is for a practical handbook about IGL for practitioners – a ‘how to’ guide with tips and strategies. Generations Growing Together, Intergenerational Learning as a Pedagogical
New from WHO: ‘Connecting Generations’, a guide for practitioners
October 11, 2023
We are happy to share the news that today, 11 October 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has published and made freely available, the Connecting Generations Guide. It builds on the evidence in the Global report on ageism that interventions for intergenerational contact have been proven to work in addressing ageism, together with policy, law and educational
Register now for the TOY Online Course starting on 7 November!
October 10, 2022
Registration is open for the next TOY Online Course which takes place between 7 November and 11 December 2022. The course, titled, “Together Old and Young: An Intergenerational Approach” is unique in its focus on young children (0 – 10 years old) and older adults and aims to promote awareness and expertise to support you
Share A Story: Children’s Books Ireland launches IG reading guide
April 26, 2022
Share A Story: Children’s Books Ireland launches intergenerational reading guide with Together Old and Young (TOY), Hibernia College and Generations Working Together Curated reading guide for educators of children 0–12 promotes building of intergenerational connections through shared reading. Today marks the first day of Global Intergenerational Week. Taking place from 25th April – Sunday 1st
A Masterclass in Intergenerational Practice in the Community
April 19, 2022
More than 60 Dublin-based community-based workers and volunteers took part in an intergenerational practice masterclass in Dublin on 7th April 2022. It was jointly organised by Fingal County Council’s Community Development Office and the Fingal Community Facilities Network . Fingal is local authority north of Dublin City. The Masterclass attracted a very diverse group of
New book about intergenerational bonds published!
March 25, 2022
We are delighted to share the news of the publication of: ‘Intergenerational Bonds: The Contributions of Older Adults to Young Children’s Lives’. TOY co-coordinators, Margaret Kernan and Giulia Cortellesi contributed the Foreword. This very well researched book was edited by Mary Renck Jalongo and Patricia A. Crawford and published by Springer as part of their Educating
TOY is an official supporter of the Global Intergenerational Week
February 10, 2022
The TOY Project is delighted to be an official supporter of the Global Intergenerational Week, which takes place from Monday 25th April to Sunday 1st May 2022. The aim of the week is to inspire people around the world to start or restart intergenerational connections. This is a global event and individuals or organisations in
New research report on IGL in education from Northern Ireland
May 18, 2021
To mark the EU Day of Solidarity between Generations on 29th April 2021, Linking Generations Northern Ireland (LGNI) launched their latest research exploring the benefits of Intergenerational Approaches to Education and Learning. LGNI is a TOY partner since 2016 and had a key role in developing and testing the TOY online course and the TOY
Talking about Generations: 5 questions to ask yourself-UK IG Week
March 11, 2021
To mark National Intergenerational Week in the UK (8-14 March), the interdisciplinary Generations Network led by academics at Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Surrey, has produced a guide to ‘Talking about Generations’. The guide presents 5 key questions to be considered by those working with the concept of generations, and 3 suggestions
Returnment: a new term for retirement in line with what TOY believes
October 29, 2020
Ever heard of returnment? This is an alternative term for retirement and it is very much in line with the idea of active ageing that TOY promotes. Returnment encourages older adults to work after work, to use their skills and knowledge to benefit the greater good.
Seed funding for IGL initiatives in England. Apply now!
October 1, 2020
Care Home Friends and Neighbours is a programme run by My Home Life England. It helps care homes connect with their local communities and vice versa by encouraging Friendships and Neighbourliness. According to one of the instigators of this great initiative, Julienne Meyer, ‘for too long, care homes for older people have been seen as
The TOY Online Course starts on 5 October. Register now!
September 7, 2020
Registration for the 5-week TOY Online Course about intergenerational learning is now open. Click here to register. The course will start on 5th October. A not to be missed opportunity to learn how young children and older adults are learning together also in COVID times. Introducing exciting new material about how technology can connect young
First IGL reading sessions for The Storytellers Project, Italy
July 14, 2020
At the beginning of July, The Storytellers Project has started its period of prototyping in the city of Empoli. The project, initiated by the Italian designer Laura Boffi in collaboration with TOY and other actors, wants to create an innovative library service, which connects a community of senior readers to young children (4-6 years old)
Intergenerational learning during COVID-19: an initiative from Dublin
July 6, 2020
The children and staff of Mellow Spring Childcare Development Centre, Finglas, Dublin had been regular visitors to Odin’s Wood Day Care Centre for two years prior to lockdown. We visited once a week and had recently changed our day to Thursday to allow the Thursday group to have an opportunity to enjoy spending time with the children
Irish intergenerational chorus goes online during COVID19
June 22, 2020
COVID 19 and all the restrictions it has brought, has seen many Intergenerational projects came to a halt. However, this has not stopped Donegal County Council’s Choir of Ages “Ceol le Chéile” in Ireland, which has always been about bringing young and older people together to build relationships and socially participate in something enjoyable.
Article ‘The Power of TOY’ in the Journal of IG Relationships
June 11, 2020
Our article ‘The power of TOY: Skills for Practitioners about IGL Involving Young Children and Older Adults’ is now published in the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships (Volume 18, 2020 – Issue 2). Click here to read about how and why the TOY Handbook, the TOY Online Course and the TOY for Quality Programme have been developed.
New Manifesto “Intergenerationality Adds Up Lives” launched today
April 29, 2020
Marking 29 April, EU Day of Solidarity between Generations, our friend Mariano Sánchez and fellow intergenerational practitioners in Spain have today launched a Manifesto called ‘Intergenerationality Adds Up Lives’ which they are presenting to the Spanish government.
TOY at the national intergenerational conference in Scotland
April 24, 2020
One of the last conferences to take place, before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all large group gatherings, was the national conference organized by Scotland’s Generations Working Together, which took place on 4th March 2020 in Glasgow. Anne Fitzpatrick and Carmel Gallagher, members of the TOY Consortium from the Technological University Dublin, Ireland were fortunate to attend.
TOY at the kick-off of the Storytellers project in Empoli (IT)
February 17, 2020
On Monday 10 February, Giulia Cortellesi (TOY) participated in the kick-off event of the Storytellers Project in Empoli, Italy. The Storytellers Project is a concept for a new library service connecting a community of senior readers to children and their families for remote reading aloud sessions. Children use the Storybell robot at home to connect with seniors willing to
