Steps Together: Children’s Experiences of Participation in Club Activities With the Elderly

ABSTRACT

The amount of time that children and elderly people spend alone has grown in recent years in Finland. Based on sociocultural theory, children’s development and learning occur in close interaction with the surrounding society, place, and time. The aim of this study is to research children’s experiences of participation in club activities for children and the elderly. The qualitative research data were collected by observing activities and interviewing children. The key factors in supporting children’s participation were common interests in rewarding activities. A warm atmosphere and humor during activities were also found to be important elements in creating positive interactions between children and the elderly.

KEYWORDS:

• Childhood studies
• children’s experiences
• children’s participation
• intergenerational relationships
• sociocultural theory

Notes

1. All the names of the test subjects have been altered for confidentiality. To refer to the researcher, the title “Researcher” is used.