Toddlers and elderly wiggling at care home dance class

TODDLERS and pensioners are coming together for intergenerational dance classes at a Sheffield care home.

WiggleTots sessions at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home, on Manchester Road, are being run for everyone from one to over 100 years of age.

They are structured to provide children and older adults with a chance to spend time together having fun, socialising and breaking down barriers.

The award-winning sessions also aim to lift the mood of elderly residents, boost their activity levels and reduce feelings of isolation.

WiggleTots won four categories at The Hoop Awards 2018 and has previously won Best UK Pre-School Dance Class at the What’s on Awards 2015, as well as Highly Commended in 2012 and 2013.

More than a dozen parents and young children, all aged two and three years old, have been taking part at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home every Thursday for the past month.

Together with the residents, they’ve been dancing and playing games with parachutes, ribbons, balls, feathers and more.

Dawn Short, who runs WiggleTots, said: “The aim of our intergenerational project is to provide children and older adults with a chance to spend quality structured and unstructured time together with a mutual benefit.

“There is growing evidence worldwide from homes that have undergone inter-generational projects, showing residents enjoy spending time with children and it lifts their mood.

“We’ve run four sessions so far at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home and they’ve been really popular and the residents have thoroughly enjoyed them as well.”

Louise Spooner, home manager at The Laurels Care Home, said: “We were very pleased to welcome WiggleTots to the home for an intergenerational class.

“It was fantastic to see the residents joining in with the class. The big smiles on the faces of both the residents and the visiting children were testament to how much they enjoyed it.

“We look forward to hosting weekly classes at the home.”

The WiggleTots sessions take place from 1:30pm to 2:30pm every Thursday at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home, on Manchester Road, Sheffield, S10 5DN.

The 2018 sessions are fully booked but any parents with young children interested in taking part in the New Year should visit www.wiggletots.co.uk for further information and to book their places.