Where Laughter Bridges Generations: A Playschool Grows Inside a Surrey Seniors’ Home
In Newton, Surrey, Tiny Scholars has reimagined care by embedding an intergenerational playschool within Amenida Seniors Community. The results are both joyful and transformative, making it a noteworthy intergenerational playschool in Surrey.
A New Chapter for Child and Senior Care
This July, Tiny Scholars Playschool opened inside Amenida Seniors Community in Newton, Surrey. It’s more than just a childcare facility—it’s an intergenerational space where toddlers and seniors share laughter, stories, and meaningful daily routines. The unique intergenerational playschool in Surrey sets a new standard for holistic care.
This initiative blends early learning with senior engagement. The concept is supported by research showing that programs connecting children and elders can improve mood and reduce loneliness. Furthermore, they enhance empathy (read more about the benefits of intergenerational care here).
How the Model Works
The playschool operates within the senior residence, creating opportunities for structured activities—like art projects and reading circles. This setup exemplifies the innovative intergenerational playschool in Surrey. It also fosters spontaneous connections in shared spaces.
Dr. Peter Chung, chair of Tiny Scholars, describes it as “a place where children grow through play and seniors find renewed purpose.” The Surrey location follows the success of other Tiny Scholars sites, such as Abbotsford. Additionally, there are plans to expand to New Westminster and Calgary.
For background on the rise of similar models, see this feature on intergenerational learning environments.
Why It Matters
The program is more than childcare—it’s a community bridge.
- For children: Early exposure to different generations encourages patience, empathy, and communication skills.
- For seniors: The daily presence of children brings energy, joy, and a renewed sense of belonging.
- For families: Drop-off and pick-up moments often become shared experiences that connect parents, grandparents, and caregivers.
You can explore how Surrey supports community-building childcare through Surrey’s Small-Scale Daycare Approval, which also makes provisions for the intergenerational playschool in Surrey.
Explore More Ultimate Summer Guide: Free Family-Friendly Happenings in Abbotsford This August.
The Cultural Dimension
Amenida Seniors Community is known for its Korean cultural programming. Tiny Scholars plans to introduce language-immersion classes that reflect Surrey’s diversity. This makes the playschool not only a social innovation but also a cultural hub that enhances the intergenerational playschool in Surrey. It supports bilingualism and heritage preservation.
Looking Ahead
By 2026, Tiny Scholars aims to expand its Surrey program to serve more than 150 children. They’re also exploring partnerships to make tuition more accessible and to develop a blueprint other communities can adopt.
Generations United, a leading advocate for these spaces, notes that such models can ease childcare shortages and improve senior well-being. Moreover, they foster a stronger sense of community, demonstrating the potential of intergenerational playschools.
Public Response and Possibilities
While this Surrey location is still new, similar projects abroad—like the UK’s intergenerational care village—have shown remarkable results. Residents report higher happiness, and children show advanced social skills.
Possible next steps include:
- Creating sliding-scale fees for broader access
- Formal research studies to measure developmental and health outcomes
- Public workshops to inspire replication of the model elsewhere
Closing Thought
Tiny Scholars in Surrey is proving that when we bring the youngest and oldest members of our community together, something powerful happens. It’s a living example of how shared joy, cultural connection, and mutual care can redefine what “childcare” and “senior care” mean in the 21st century, exemplified by the intergenerational playschool in Surrey.
