A CLOSE bond formed between two very different generations is bearing fruit in the city's west.
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Children from Balance Early Education have been making a weekly visit to the nearby Ingenia Gardens seniors' community for activities or just to catch up - and it works the other way, too.
The connection began by accident when Balance's Karyn Edwards-Todd crossed paths with Ingenia resident Iona Dries at Westpoint Shopping Centre - where Balance is located - and offered to give her a hand.
"It went from there," Ms Edwards-Todd said.
Balance educators now help Ms Dries, 89, by taking her letters (to her sister who lives overseas) to the post office and by collecting her groceries.
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Each Wednesday, a group of children from Balance's Kurrajong Preschool Room walk up to Ingenia Gardens and spend time with the residents for about an hour.
They are joined by Emily Andrews from the Seymour Centre, who helps run art and craft activities.
"It is always so much fun and provides countless moments of joy and laughter to the children and residents," Balance's Molly Gallop said.
"We live in a society where care for young and old is increasingly segregated, with limited opportunity for the two age groups to interact."
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Balance, she said, values how much "bookend generations" have to offer each other and is working towards putting them in the same place "so they can work their magic".
Ms Edwards-Todd said the relationship between Balance and Ingenia had meant a lot to both generations.
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She said a group of Ingenia residents - including John Hauptmann, who dressed as Santa - had joined the Balance children at their Christmas party at Bicentennial Park recently.
"We picked them [the Ingenia residents] up and they spent the afternoon with the children," she said.
"John loved being Santa."
As well, the Ingenia residents know they can drop in at Balance when they are going by, Ms Edwards-Todd said.
"Now that we have got that connection, lots of residents come down to the service and read with the children at any time of day," she said.
"It's very important that children learn from other generations."
Ingenia Gardens manager Susan Neill said the visits from Balance and the Seymour Centre fit in well with Ingenia's Activate program, which aims to build bonds among the residents and provide a sense of belonging and community.
