You Light Up My Life

Experiences with care home residents

Ruth Ann Darnall

For the last six years of my teaching career, our class regularly visited the local Care Home facility with our intermediate buddy class. We played many song experience games with the residents and entertained them with old time songs that were in the Care Home’s songbook.

Song games allowed the children to interact with the seniors as well as with each other. The children rotated from partner to partner, playing with everyone in the room. Movements were modified so residents in wheel chairs and those restricted in some way could be part of the activities. It was magical to see how the faces of the older folks lit up when the children shook their hands, smiled at them or gave them a hug. It was exciting to see children who were reluctant players blossom while being part of this play. Both groups really looked forward to the monthly visits.