Tatiana lives in Dubai with her husband and their twelve-year-old daughter, Maia. Originally, Tatiana is from Russia and her husband is from Argentina; the family brings together multiple cultural traditions within their everyday life in Dubai. Maia, born and raised in Dubai, is fluent in speaking, writing and reading in Russian, Spanish, and English, and is developing Arabic and French at school.

Reading Together

Sharing a poem about a squirrel becomes an intergenerational language exchange, where oral reading, discussion, and storytelling introduce forest animals while strengthening Russian language fluency. Through shared interpretation and dialogue, generations co-construct meaning and sustain linguistic and cultural continuity.

Cooking Together

Preparing traditional Russian dumplings from the Ural Mountains becomes a shared cultural practice, where grandparents and children collaborate in mixing, shaping, and cooking from scratch. The kitchen becomes a site of intergenerational agency, storytelling, and embodied learning through taste, texture, and memory.

Singing and Dancing

In the park, grandparents and children sing a Russian song about sunbeams and move together in rhythm. Through music, gesture, and voice, expressive culture becomes a joyful space for accent development, language preservation, and relational connection across generations.

Playing on the Swing

A simple swing becomes a site of shared presence and dialogue, improving native Spanish language. During walks, grandparents gently push, encourage, and converse, transforming everyday outdoor play into moments of trust, laughter, and emotional wellbeing.

Ice Skating

On the winter ice, children, parents, and grandparents glide together, negotiating balance and support. Ice skating becomes an intergenerational practice of mutual encouragement, resilience, and shared seasonal tradition rooted in place.

Painting Freely

Messy painting sessions invite experimentation with colour and texture. Generations sit side by side, sharing materials and ideas, where creativity becomes a collaborative process and agency is expressed through artistic exploration.

Playing Doctor

Imaginative role-play unfolds as a child explores the idea of becoming a doctor, guided by a grandfather’s questions and encouragement. Through pretend scenarios, intergenerational dialogue supports identity formation, aspiration, and confidence.

Engaging with Art Exhibitions

Standing before paintings, grandparents and children discuss artistic themes and cultural heritage. Writing reflections in Russian extends the experience beyond observation, linking expressive culture with literacy, identity, and intergenerational knowledge exchange.

Crafting the Solar System

Creating a model of the solar system becomes a collaborative inquiry into scientific concepts. Through discussion, painting, assembling, and problem-solving, generations share knowledge and curiosity, connecting creativity with scientific understanding.

Photoshoot and Dramatic Play

Acting out scenes with a grandmother during a photoshoot transforms photography into playful performance. Expressive gestures, humour, and imagination foster shared narratives and joyful co-creation.

Park Walks and Conversations

Regular walks in the park provide a natural setting for storytelling, questioning, and reflective dialogue. Movement through place supports relational closeness, cultural transmission, and everyday opportunities for intergenerational exchange.

Gardening Together

Planting seeds and tending to growing plants becomes a shared practice of care and patience. Through hands-on gardening, grandparents transmit ecological knowledge, responsibility, and respect for living systems, nurturing both food and relationships.