Ms Adrina aims to educate the Nursery children that inclusion is all about the heart! She shares the belief from Kindle Garden (the first inclusive preschool in Singapore) that when children learn to think positively about people or include others in their environment, inclusion becomes a natural part of life!At the start of the SSDB Project, children took turns to make individual handprints for the SSDB poster. Some children traced the letters of words such as, “I love, I care” while few children drew pictures of them being friends with children who have learning difficulties.
The SSDB poster intended to inform parents and children that inclusivity begins with “me”!
In the first SSDB activity, while children were engaged in the e-stories, “It’s OK to be Different!” and “We’re Different, We’re the Same”, they learnt that everyone is the same yet different! These stories would instil in them an understanding to accept one another.
Children observed friends with learning needs through two videos about Kindle Garden. During a discussion, children offered ideas on showing kindness towards friends who have learning difficulties. They recognised that they could be patient, talk nicely, play with them, and show kindness!
In addition to this, children expressed their learning through their drawings. They were facilitated to trace a sentence to show their thoughts.
In the second SSDB activity, children learnt that they could create art on recycled tee-shirts. Each child painted a picture within the outline of a chosen template on a recycled tee-shirt. Through their small efforts, they wished that these upcycled tee-shirts could raise funds for the President Challenge, and contribute to a charity (Club Rainbow) that help children with needs.
In the third SSDB activity, children were facilitated to personalize a name on the ‘apple’ attached to a blue pouch that is hand sewn by the teacher.
Finally, the children’s efforts in upcycling the tee-shirts and personalizing names on the blue pouches were rewarded by parents’ warm support and generous contributions towards these items! The children were also happy to bring home their individual creations and soft toys after their donations.
At the closure of the SSDB project, children sang and danced to a song, “Hello to all the Children of the World!” It impressed in each of their hearts that all children are friends in the world regardless of learning differences.
Through the SSDB project, the children appreciated the efforts of parents, teachers and one another. As they said, “I am small but I can do something to help!” They recognised that they had helped to raise funds through their creations.
Children learnt that they could make a difference through learning to show empathy for others who are different from them. They would start to care, help, share, and be a friend to someone with learning needs!
