EXPLORING EXPERIENCES OF A PILOT INTERGENERATIONAL PLAY PROGRAM IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

Abstract

Physical inactivity and social isolation are two pressing public health concerns in Nova Scotia, particularly among older adults. Intergenerational play (IGP) has emerged as a promising community-based strategy to address these issues by promoting both physical activity (PA) and social connection (SC). This thesis describes a study designed to explore the factors that influence participation in “Free for All” (FFA), a locally developed IGP program modeled after ParkPlay in the United Kingdom. FFA offered one free drop-in session in Halifax during the summer of 2024. Guided by a constructivist worldview and framed by the Social Ecological Model (SEM), this study employed a qualitative design to understand participant experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants to explore personal experiences, barriers, and facilitators to participation in FFA. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, and three themes were generated: 1) Negotiating entry into play: ‘on ramps’ matter, (2) Play as an intergenerational equalizer: children open doors and adults walk through them, and (3) The fragile infrastructure of belonging: material conditions build social connections. The findings of this study contribute to a growing body of knowledge that IGP can serve as an inclusive, community-based health promotion strategy to promote PA and SC. Findings highlight the importance of cost-free design, child-led openness and supportive facilitation to promote participation. They also suggest that material and environmental conditions, such as accessibility and program continuity, are critical for sustaining participation and connection. Together, these insights have created a framework to implement IGP in Nova Scotia.