My First Skool at 164 Rivervale Crescent has always had a strong partnership with our next-door neighbour, St Luke’s Eldercare. Before the pandemic hit us, we made monthly visits and celebrated many festivities together. Unfortunately, that has stopped for the past year and more. However, that does not stop us from reaching out to them!
In the past few months, every class took turns to plan activities for the elderly to participate in. Activities ranged from art and craft to sing-alongs and simple exercises. The children from our centre take part by providing the elderly with the visuals such as a demonstration of how the artwork is done or how a game is played.
The staff from St Luke’s Eldercare told us that the elderly really enjoyed doing craft work! In the photo above, they were given some cotton buds and paint to dot onto a template of a flower. You can see the focus and concentration of these elderly women. It is also an activity to help them move their muscles in their hands, just like how we help children refine their fine motor skills.
Every artwork activity that we handed over to the eldercare gets displayed on their shelves once the elderly have completed them. The staff would then share the photos with us since we are unable to visit them. It sure makes a beautiful sight!
The elderly also enjoy games! A simple balloon passing game amongst a small group of elderly and even though they are wearing masks, you can see their smiling eyes and feel their enthusiasm through these photos!
