Bringing Generations Together Through Music: Intergenerational Connections at Happy Days Nurseries
At Happy Days Nurseries, we believe in creating rich, meaningful experiences that go beyond early education. One of the most heartwarming and impactful ways we do this is through intergenerational music and movement sessions. These joyful experiences connect children with older generations in local care homes, using music and movement to build bonds, enhance learning, and bring communities together. Our commitment to community, wellbeing, and child development shines through in initiatives like this—brought to life through the Boogie Minis Programme (part of the Boogie Mites family of programmes).
This joyful and impactful initiative has become a key part of our approach at Charlton Heights, where children develop vital early learning skills while forming beautiful bonds with older generations in local care homes. We are excited to explore expanding this activity to other nurseries in the future.
What is Boogie Mites?
The Boogie Mites School Ready Programme (which all our nurseries deliver) uses music, rhythm, and movement to develop children’s communication, language, and early literacy skills. With 25 songs directly linked to Letters and Sounds Phase One, the programme enhances phonological awareness, listening skills, and sound recognition—all through fun, upbeat, and neuroscience-backed activities.
Each song has been specifically written to capture the imagination of young children, incorporating diverse music genres, fun lyrics, and great melodies to develop rhythmic and melodic awareness. This programme recognises the importance that daily music and singing play in building strong foundations for early language acquisition and literacy skills, including sound recognition and phoneme awareness.
Our trained Boogie Mites Ambassadors lead children in daily music sessions that build confidence, coordination, creativity, and connection.
The Magic of Intergenerational Music and Movement
At Charlton Heights, we’ve introduced intergenerational music and movement sessions that go beyond simple visits. These are meaningful experiences where small groups of children bring music, dance, and storytelling into care homes, creating a powerful connection between generations.
The structure and spontaneity of these sessions, led by our Boogie Mites-trained practitioners at Charlton Heights, form the foundation of our intergenerational music and movement approach. It’s more than just singing—it’s about nurturing empathy, building confidence, and bringing communities together through shared rhythm and joy.
Why Intergenerational Sessions Matter
These visits go far beyond entertainment—they’re powerful opportunities for connection, development, and joy. Here are just some of the benefits we’ve seen across generations:
Building Social and Emotional Skills
Children learn empathy, patience, and communication as they interact with people of a different age group. Many of our children don’t have regular contact with older adults, especially grandparents who live abroad. These visits help bridge that gap, creating emotional connections and expanding their worldview.
Encouraging Physical Activity and Coordination
Boogie Mites sessions are filled with movement—clapping, marching, dancing, and playing instruments. For children, this supports motor development. For elderly residents, it provides gentle exercise that improves mobility, circulation, and overall wellbeing.
Supporting Communication and Confidence
Music gives children a voice—even when they can’t always find the words. Singing and performing with an audience builds self-esteem. Meanwhile, elderly residents enjoy a renewed sense of purpose and engagement, often showing increased communication and participation.
Learning About Respect and Diversity
Interacting with older adults helps children understand ageing, differences in ability, and the value of every individual. They develop a deeper respect for others and learn how to adapt their behaviour in different social settings.
Creating Joyful Moments for Residents
The happiness and laughter children bring during these visits are genuinely uplifting. Residents who may be shy or withdrawn often light up, singing along, tapping feet, and joining in. As one care home manager shared, “We’ve seen increased engagement from residents who are usually quite reserved. The music creates a positive atmosphere that’s infectious.”
Strengthening Community Bonds
At the heart of these sessions is a sense of community. Our nursery teams, care home staff, children, and residents work together to build lasting relationships that bring joy, purpose, and learning to all involved.
A Thoughtfully Designed Programme
Our team at Charlton Heights works closely with care homes to plan and deliver sessions that are inclusive and supportive. From rehearsing songs to preparing homemade instruments and visiting care homes in advance, we take care to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Charlton Heights has found that small groups of around five children work best—allowing for meaningful interactions without overwhelming elderly residents. Children now lovingly refer to residents as their “older friends,” and many initiate Boogie Mites sessions themselves back at nursery—a true sign of confidence and connection.
Boogie Mites and the Where Children Shine Curriculum
At Happy Days Nurseries, Boogie Mites is a core part of our ambitious, broad, and balanced Early Years Curriculum—“Where Children Shine.” This curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn, explore, and discover while attending nursery, supporting them to reach their full potential and become strong, motivated learners for life.
In England, this curriculum supports the delivery of the seven education programmes as defined within the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. It values children as unique, strong, and resilient individuals and recognises that play is a fundamental aspect of a child’s learning and development.
In Wales, Happy Days’ ambitious, broad, and balanced curriculum—Where Children Shine—has been adapted to support children in realising the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales, focusing on the needs of the developing child through the five developmental pathways. It values children as unique, strong, capable, and resilient individuals and recognises that play is fundamental for children’s learning and development. The delivery of the curriculum will support and extend children’s knowledge and skills.
“Where Children Shine” is built on four key aspects, underpinned by seven core Educational Programmes:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Boogie Mites sits within our first key aspect: Strong & Confident Communicator. This part of the curriculum helps children build essential communication and confidence skills through programmes that support listening, understanding, and expression—crucial for development both now and in the future.
Each nursery delivers the following programmes to support this aspect:
- Awe & Wonder Book Club
- Letters & Sounds
- Sing & Sign
- Babbling Babies & Toddler Talk
- Musical Matters
- Boogie Mites
Through Boogie Mites, children engage with neuroscience-informed music that enhances their communication, emotional expression, and school readiness. Each session lays the groundwork for a love of language and learning.
Looking Ahead: A Community in Harmony
We’re proud of the positive impact these sessions have had at Charlton Heights—from boosting school readiness to enhancing wellbeing across generations. The laughter, the learning, and the shared experiences are helping to shape children who are not only school-ready, but world-ready—with compassion, confidence, and curiosity.
As one of our Nursery Managers beautifully said: “It has been wonderful watching our children’s confidence grow with each interaction. Every time I walk into the room, the children ask, ‘Are we going to the care home today?’ That excitement says it all.”
At Happy Days Nurseries, we’re proud to be building bridges between generations—one song, one smile, and one shared moment at a time. Stay tuned for more stories from across our nurseries as we continue to celebrate the joy of learning together.
