Ageism for Kids – Age Discrimination Workshops

2020 Dreams Age Discrimination workshops will introduce the concept of ageism for kids, including what prejudice and discrimination are and how they operate in society. Students will be encouraged to think about how older people may feel forgotten or left behind in a fast-paced world and how stereotypes about both young and old people (the rude teenager or the cranky old man) can stop us from seeing the real person behind the age

Age discrimination, or ageism, affects both young and old people and can be deliberate or, more often, unintended. Whether it is a heavy-handed official putting up a ‘no ball games’ sign on the only surviving green space in the neighbourhood, or a shop assistant expressing frustration as an aged pensioner fumbles with their money, there are many examples of a lack of understanding and respect between the young and the old

Key Statistics*

60% of older people in the UK agree that age discrimination exists in their daily lives.
76% of older people believe that the country doesn’t make the best use of the skills and talents of older people.
53% of adults agreed that very old people tend to be treated like children.
*From Age UK: London, 2016.

Closing the Generation Gap

In earlier times, multiple generations lived together in the same house and there are still some families which live in close proximity to one another. However, in general the UK has seen a movement away from this intergenerational living, making it difficult for the young and old to communicate with one another.

This impoverishes society as older people lack access to the physical strength and capabilities that young people can bring while the young miss out on the experience and wisdom that older people have picked up.

Where society has divided the generations, it is up to schools and community organisations to step in and bring them back together. High quality ageism for kids training, as delivered by 2020 Dreams, helps young people to understand their role in this mission while also articulating their own needs and experiences of discrimination.

Gender Equality and the National Curriculum

There is no specific requirement in the National Curriculum to provide ageism for kids tuition, although Citizenship outcomes state that the government do expect the key related areas of respect, liberty, human rights and law to be covered during Key Stages Three and Four.

In addition, our thought-provoking open forum debates will provide valuable practice in developing, “skills to research and interrogate evidence, debate and evaluate viewpoints, present reasoned arguments and take informed action.” This is set down in the National Curriculum as a target for secondary schools.
We are able to provide workshops for a range of different ages. For example, older children can be introduced to topics such as age legislation and the rights of older adults in employment.

How do 2020 Dreams Teach Ageism for Kids?

In common with our other workshops, 2020 Dreams uses a combination of tools and techniques to present ageism for kids in a way that has maximum impact. Role-play activities build on the theoretical material in a fun way that gives students the chance to experience some of the challenges of being an elderly person in a fast-moving world, or to act out the frustrations they themselves come across in dealing with adults. For many young people, an ageism for kids workshop may be the first time they have ever thought about these issues.

Open discussions are another important part of every 2020 Dreams Age Discrimination workshop, giving young people the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned, expand on their own experiences of discrimination and ask any questions they might have.