On 18 July 2017, we launched our Start Small Dream Big project with the children of the Kindergarten 1 class and the elderly from NTUC SilverACE.
The launch commenced with a bonding session of puppet making where the children and the elderly had to work together to create a puppet out of receyclables.
Subsequently, the children put up a performance of a dance with the song “Home” by Kit Chan, conveying their appreciation for the elderly.
Finally, we finished with a heartwarminggift-giving ceremony where the children handed out goodie bags which they had prepared themselves to the elderly.
We live in a society where care of young children and the elderly is increasingly segregated, with very limited opportunity for the two age groups to interact. This involves planned interactions between elders and children in a variety of settings.
These interactions can have fantastic benefits for each generation, such as the increase in self-esteem and the promotion of friendships. Shared play activities have also been found to result in greater smiles and more conversation for elders.
This collaboration with NTUC SilverACE has given us the opportunity to be part of the grand scheme of building this bridge over the generational gap between the elderly and young children. Through this movement, we have seen children, most of whom rarely get the opportunity to help others, step out to live a life larger themselves as they interact with the elderly to achieve a similar goal.
Moving forward, to ensure sustainability of this project, this will to be built into the Kindergarten 1 curriculum where the children will have multiple opportunities on at least a monthly basis for planned activities with the elderly.
