In line with this year’s theme “A Caring and Inclusive Home for All”, our Centre, PCF Sparkletots Preschool @ Tampines East Blk 261 (KN) decided to embark on our project entitled “SSDB: Caring from a Distance with 261”
We had an initial plan that had to be shelved due to the outbreak of COVID-19. During the Circuit Breaker, which was enforced in April, the teachers brainstormed on activities that could help families occupy their time constructively at home.
When the children returned to school after the 2 months break, they shared what they had done at home. Some of the children also shared that they missed their grandparents whom they could not visit during this period. One of the children also shared that her mum was in the hospital but was not allowed any visitors. Thus, came the idea of us reaching out to patients in the hospitals to engage them in interactions to give them encouragement and support during this difficult period.
As earlier, we had made some cards to encourage the frontline workers, we took this opportunity to seek the help of our MP from Tampines GRC - Ms Cheng Li Hui to link us to the hospitals. We wrote to them and managed to get in touch with the doctors who were able to link us to some of their elderly patients. For privacy concerns, we will address them as Popo C and Popo S.
The children were excited and curious about who they were going to meet and wanted to find out more about them. They looked forward to meeting them, and discussed what they wanted to ask, tell and share with them.
On 23 June 2020, we had our first interactive Zoom session in the morning with Popo C and her therapist. Popo C’s daughter was there too! Popo C told us that she is 89 years old! The children cheered when they heard that. Popo C also shared about her school life in Nanyang Girls School. She also shared that she loves colouring and she likes flowers.
In the afternoon, our children met with Popo S. The children asked about her hobbies and what she likes to eat. When she said that she was 82 years old, one of our children commented that his grandmother was not that old and Popo S laughed.
It was heart-warming to see the children interacting with them and the smiles on both the children and the patients’ faces.
The children sang and danced for them too. It was nice to see the patients following their moves and clapping along. Even though the sessions were short, our children were very happy and even asked if they could do it again.
The doctors from the hospital gave feedback that they had enjoyed the sessions and that our children have “definitely made a positive difference in Mdm C’s and Mdm S’s stay in the hospital”.
After the sessions, the children discussed and decided to put together a care pack for each of the patients. For Popo C, the children designed a colouring book, choosing pictures that they felt Popo C would like. Many of them chose flowers as she had told them that she likes flowers. Each children personalised their page with a handwritten note.
For Popo S, the children drew pictures of her and the things that she said she likes to do. They also wrote personalised notes for her on each drawing. The children also discussed the type of food they would enjoy and put together a list to purchase. One child even suggested getting puzzles for them.
The children packed the items and as we were still in Phase 1 post-circuit breaker, the teachers represented them by sending the care packs to the home of Popo C (received by her daughter) and to the hospital (received by Popo S’s doctor). We hope these care packs signify the care and concern that we have for one another in society even though we need to keep that distance.
We hope to touch more hearts of other patients and we hope that this pandemic will come to an end soon so that relatives and friends can visit them and give encouragement and the emotional support that they need.
Nobody can do everything but everyone can do something.
Together, we can overcome this!
Stay safe and stay healthy! ❤️
