WHAT do you get if you put a 103 year old with a three year old? Plenty of fun, that’s what.
Bellevue Heights centenarian Jean Linehan, in South Australia, found this out firsthand when a group of local kindergarten students visited her aged care home recently.
The students from Montessori Kids got together with around 40 residents at Resthaven Bellevue Heights residential aged care for a singalong and games to mark the United Nations International Day of the Older Person on October 1.
The children performed enthusiastic renditions of Move Those Muscles, and The Dragon Stomp to the much-amused residents
‘You haven’t heard The Dragon Stomp properly until you’ve heard almost 40 three-year-olds do a dragon ROAR!’ said Bellevue Heights manager of residential services, Wendy Martin.
The performance was followed by a group singalong of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Baa Baa Black Sheep by students and residents.
‘Everyone remembers the old favourites,’ added Wendy.
Mrs Linehan, 103, said the children were “beautifully behaved” and that the 100-year age gap is no problem at all.
“Just watching them is so much fun,” she said.
“The children come up and look you right in the eye. They look at you as if they’re really interested in you. It’s wonderful.”
Director of Montessori Kindy Bellevue Heights Sally Mooney said the kids loved the whole experience.
“They love chatting with residents; the interactions and conversations they have are so precious,” she said.
“One little boy said that he loved doing the dancing, and he loved the way that the older people joined in, even though ‘we were standing up and they were sitting down’.”
