On one side of the room, a four-year-old boy is giggling with glee as he defends himself with a pool noodle (or three) against the swipes coming his way from a grey-haired friendly foe.

In the middle of the room is a mat patterned with palm trees and animals, scattered with toy cars, marble towers and brightly coloured Duplo. A shy but happy boy sucks his thumb while seated on his grandma’s lap, occasionally rising to build something new.

Along the back wall, several balloons bounce up and down the length of a table, propelled by a mix of bare hands and pool noodles. A young man in an orange t-shirt ensures that everyone seated at the table has a chance to participate, and the smiles they give are plentiful.

This is Ingle Farm Residential Care Home on a Wednesday Morning. The Lifestyle Team cater for the residents and a playgroup which has been up and running for around 18 months now. It’s a morning that everyone looks forward to.

A mainstay of the intergenerational playgroup is Theo, the four-year-old who was busy in battle. Ingle Farm is home to two of his great-grandmothers, making him a fourth-generation connection. His grandparents, Anne and Wayne, bring him in each week to have a play and spend time with family.

“Sometimes it’s really structured,” says Anne, “and other times it’s a bit freestyle. The mats are always out though. They play noodle-soccer, quoits, and sometimes skittles when it’s a smaller group. Often, we’ll buy Theo a fruit salad from the café so he can eat when the residents do.”

“He loves chatting to them all and has different relationships with each. When he can’t remember their names, he calls them grandma and grandpa. Last week he had lots of grandpas,” she says with a smile.

Conversation is pleasantly interrupted by music, just loud enough for the residents and children to sing along to. They become a chorus of “one little finger, tap, tap, tap” replete with actions. Again, the smiles are many, even on the faces of those who choose to watch.

Cynthia, one of the most enthusiastic singers, is also resident reader. Once the music stops, she moves her wheelchair to the top of a rough circle of chairs and pulls out a book. Story time is a clear favourite for Theo, who drags a chair as close as possible and provides expert commentary throughout her wonderful, animated delivery. He’s not the only one transfixed, though. All residents join the circle, and it’s hard to say who is the most invested in finding Little Bear by the end of the story.

According to Anne, the play group is a wonderful way to bring her mother Dorothy (92) out of her room in the Memory Support Unit, where she often keeps to herself.

“She lights up when it comes to Theo, and she loves chatting to him about cars and animals. I’m so grateful to the Lifestyle Staff. They make themselves very available, and they problem-solve. As an ex-nurse, I can also confirm that the nurses here are really good. The volunteers are the icing on the cake.”

Like Theo’s grey-haired friendly foe. Her name is Lynn, and she’s been volunteering for about six months. “I love chatting with absolutely everyone here, young and old,” she says. “I’m a hands-on grandma, so I’m hands-on with the children here. And I love the rapport I have with the older people. They have so much to tell me about. Sometimes their careers completely blow me away. Being in their company is humbling.”

Lifestyle assistant, Braydn, admits he was a bit nervous about working with children when playgroup first started. You wouldn’t think it seeing him in action. He too is great with all ages. Asked what he loves about having the children on-site, he says it “brings out the kid in the residents, along with lots of smiling and laughing.”

Wayne’s Mum Maureen is also 92. She loves watching the children play. “It’s a pity more don’t come,” she laments.

In good news, they absolutely can. The team at Ingle Farm would love to welcome more children each week. If you have family, friends, or acquaintances who might be interested, please invite them to join in the fun. They can get in touch via phone 1300 653 600 or email.

The weekly sessions run on Wednesdays during school terms from around 10:00 am to 11:30 am.