Intergenerational Musical Bumps has been introduced at Little Bramingham Farm, a Luton care home run by charity Friends of the Elderly.

Every two weeks Musical Bumps provides music groups, singing and fun for residents at the care home, along with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers with their parents and carers.

Alex Martin who owns Musical Bumps Central Bedfordshire, said: “Our Intergenerational Musical Bumps classes at Little Bramingham Farm bring both the young and old generations together to make music, sing and have fun. Each week the class includes traditional songs and rhymes, playing instruments, singing with puppets, movement through action songs and dancing and so much more – I make sure that there is something for everyone and every generation to enjoy.”

Emma Lawrance, registered manager at Little Bramingham Farm commented: “Our activities coordinator Karen Charity and I wanted to give our residents a new and exciting intergenerational activity to participate in. When we spoke to Alex, the Musical Bumps class seemed to be an exciting and creative option. Since the classes started, we haven’t looked back, it was definitely the right choice for our residents, they adore it.”

Charity added: “All the intergenerational activities we arrange at Little Bramingham Farm have a positive impact on our residents. They not only enhance the quality of life for our residents, but they also support mental and physical wellbeing, provide great opportunities for interactions and socialising and provide additional stimulation.

Martin said: “Music and singing are wonderful, shared activities for parents and carers to do with babies and children which can help with many aspects of early years development including speech and language, fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional development and those all-important musical skills. For the older generation, the classes provide a creative and entertaining activity which stimulates both the body and mind – music, and especially singing, can unlock memories and reach parts of the brain in ways that other forms of communication just cannot. The classes also offer the residents a nice and open way to engage with the babies, children and their parents. We see the residents light up when they are watching small children exploring, and they also love watching the interaction between parents, carers and their little ones.