An Intergenerational Experiment of Age-Friendly Children’s Picture Books in Elementary School

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to engage in empirical research, utilizing a quasi-experimental method, to examine having books addressing aging presented in an intergenerational course to see whether this can effectively improve students’ aging knowledge, attitudes, and intentions toward older adults. This study involved a seven-week picture book read-aloud course addressing the specific theme of aging presented by a senior volunteer teacher. A total of 52 5th grade students were recruited to participate in this study, which also involved the use of aging knowledge, attitudes, and intentions questionnaires. The results revealed that, while there were no statistically significant differences in the experimental group regarding attitudes or intentions, it did indicate that presenting age-friendly picture books can effectively promote children’s aging knowledge. With the advent of a superannuated society, there is an urgent need to offer aging education, since correct aging knowledge may influence children’s attitudes and behavioral intentions.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD

1. This study incorporates picture books and intergenerational learning into its design, and the results show that combining age-friendly picture books with intergenerational learning brings about effective and significant improvements in aging knowledge.

2. There are very few intergenerational learning activities like age-friendly read-aloud in Taiwan and this study points out implementing intergenerational aging education in elementary school curriculum is both feasible and necessary in Taiwan.

3. The results of this study clearly show that teaching age-friendly picture books can significantly improve children’s knowledge of aging.

KEYWORDS:

• Age-friendly children’s picture books
• aging knowledge
• aging attitudes
• intentions toward aging
• ageism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Council [106-2410-H-194-032-SS2].