Promote Intergenerational Learning Between the Elderly and Children Through Home-School Collaboration: A Study in a Chinese Rural Community

• In Event: Adult Education: International Perspectives on Lifelong Learning for the Aging Population

Abstract

At present, with the acceleration of urbanization and rapid aging development in China, more and more rural left-behind children are living with their grandparents as rural young people migrate to cities for work. Taking care of grandchildren has become an indispensable part of the life of the elderly in rural areas. Although the elderly in rural areas can take care of their grandchildren and share parenting responsibilities, the “digital divide” between them and generation difference lead to obvious estrangement and even conflict in their values and behaviors. Since 2019, Class 1, Grade 3 of B Town Primary School in Wuyi County, Zhejiang Province, has carried out a series of intergenerational learning activities in the form of home-school cooperation, which was embedded in the “Hello, Winter Vacation!” research project. These intergenerational learning activities encourage grandparents and grandchildren to learn together. This chapter conducted an interpretive inquiry to explore how participating primary schools conducted the intergenerational learning project and understand its impact. Based on in-depth interviews with 2 teachers, 20 grandchildren and 22 grandparents, four main findings emerged: (1) Expanding the learning resources, enriching and diversifying learning content, integrated learning resources; (2) Grandparents’ development of learning interests, motivation and behaviors; (3) Grandchildren deepening their understanding of older people and enhancing intergenerational relations; (4) The construction of a learning family promoting home-school collaboration and the development of lifelong education. As the proportion of elderly population continues to grow in rural areas, intergenerational learning shows its great potential in promoting the development of a sustainable society. It also provides new ideas and perspectives for the development of rural elderly education. This insight suggests that researchers should make more contributions to this emerging field of research and practice.

Authors

• Wenshu Li, Shandong Jianzhu University

• Jiacheng Li, East China Normal University

• Shuli Tu