Intergenerational interaction can develop empathy in children and boost the self-esteem of seniors.
The dialect lessons are part of the Intergenerational Programme by NTUC Health and NTUC First Campus, which run elder care and childcare centres respectively.
When the programme started in 2014, activities were held on an ad-hoc basis. The Intergenerational Programme was incorporated into the curriculum at NTUC’s My First Skool pre-schools as well as regular programming for seniors at NTUC Health’s elderly care facilities in 2017. Ms Cheryl Lim, who manages the programme across the senior day care NTUC centres, said that the dialect sessions will be expanded to all 26 centres, hopefully by the end of 2025.
She added that, after telling the children that she was not fluent in Mandarin, a girl told her, “I can teach you Mandarin popo”. Hearing that made Madam Goh happy. To engage seniors and promote intergenerational interactions, two student volunteers from NUS High School of Math and Science launched the Leggo! programme at the NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre in Bukit Batok West in February 2024.
Apart from the dialect sessions, pre-school children and seniors make arts and crafts and celebrate festive and birthday celebrations together regularly. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Currently, intergenerational dialect sessions are being piloted at the senior day care centre at Serangoon Central, and they are gaining traction. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
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