By Denise Tay
In support of Go Green SG 2025, NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors (Toa Payoh) and My First Skool at Blk 236 Toa Payoh collaborated on an intergenerational activity to make art out of fallen leaves! This delightful activity helped both preschoolers and seniors bond, bringing joy, learning and environmental awareness through arts and crafts.
The day began with warm-up exercises and fun trivia questions for the seniors. The preschoolers also greeted the seniors with a song-and-dance performance, bringing a smile to everyone’s faces.
Teachers from My First Skool guiding children and the seniors with a simple warm-up exercise.
My First Skool teacher Maristella (standing, in orange top) and her preschoolers engaging the seniors with a welcome performance.
A collaborative effort between the young and old
Guided by their teachers, the preschoolers then helped the seniors collect fallen leaves from the surrounding grass patch outside the day care centre. 
A preschooler helping a senior collect dried leaves from the ground.
With the leaves collected, the group started on their leaf art. It was a collaborative experience – the preschoolers shaped the leaves into animal shapes, and the seniors cut and glued them in place.
My First Skool teacher Maristella hopes that the activity can cultivate eco-awareness in children from a young age. She explained, “In school, we always tell the children not to pluck leaves and flowers from plants to avoid harming them. Even for this activity, we told the children to only collect the leaves, twigs, and flowers from the ground. This activity serves as a reminder for the children to respect and care for the environment.”
A senior using scissors to trim the leaves.
Healing the environment and the soul
The activity was not just about art – it was also therapeutic. Ms Ng Yoke Cheng, Centre Manager at NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors (Toa Payoh), shared, “Activities like this promote well-being and environmental awareness by bringing nature indoors. Being surrounded by nature has a calming effect; it relaxes the mind and uplifts the spirits!”
Ms Ng Yoke Cheng, Centre Manager at NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors (Toa Payoh), curating the leaf art pieces.
Preschooler Loh Jing Yu, Daniel, along with his mum, helping a senior create her leaf art.
Moreover, intergenerational conversations spark joy for both young and old. Mdm Kwek Geok Keng, a 78 year old senior and participant of this activity, appreciated the company of the little ones, “I enjoyed myself today because of the preschoolers!” Puah Cai Ying Ada, a Nursery 2 preschooler, expressed her joy in interacting with new people, and meeting the seniors was exciting for her.
Making a promise to the environment
As the activity progressed, another senior, 82-year-old Mdm Mary Tay Bok Heng, shared that such activities remind her of her daily eco-friendly habits. 
Mdm Mary Tay Bok Heng concentrating on her craft work with preschooler Eason helping to select leaves for her art.
Having suffered from stroke in her golden years, she is less mobile and not able to move about without help. But this does not deter her from recycling. She said, “Recycling helps in going green and protecting the environment! I always wash my beverage bottles before recycling them to avoid attracting ants or other pests.”
She added, “If more individuals can practise eco-friendly habits like recycling and join such eco-programmes, future generations will benefit from a cleaner environment.”
