Childhood Reflections: How Kids Echo Your Younger Self

Imagine dementia as a bookshelf where your most recent memories are placed at the top, but occasionally these memories slip away.

Katie from Riverdale Primary School close to Lisburn has received instruction from some exceptionally special educators.

The 11-year-old student has been studying dementia alongside fellow pupils at their school, through interactions with elderly individuals who have firsthand experience of the condition.

Students from Riverdale have been interacting with residents at St Paul's Court — a facility managed by Praxis Care for individuals with mild dementia.

The pensioners from the home have also visited the primary school.

News NI accompanied Katie and other Riverdale students when they revisited St Paul's Court.

When they were there, the students learned about street games such as marbles and hopscotch that the previous generations enjoyed playing during their childhood.

They have likewise received instruction on what dementia entails and how it feels to experience living with it.

What is dementia?

According to the NHS, dementia is characterized as a syndrome involving a continuous deterioration of cognitive functions in the brain.

Various factors can lead to dementia, and multiple forms of it exist.

However, certain typical signs might involve memory lapses, challenges with speech, or troubles performing everyday tasks.

Consequently, individuals suffering from dementia might find social settings challenging and could become less interested in interacting socially.

The symptoms may intensify with time.

All inhabitants of St Paul's Court suffer from mild dementia or cognitive impairment.

What knowledge do the students have regarding dementia?

"Memory loss and the illness affect more than just day-to-day living," Katie stated.

Dementia can be compared to a bookshelf where your most recent memories are placed at the top, and occasionally, these memories might slip away.

However, students and locals have formed connections through reminiscences of childhood, despite their experiences often being quite distinct from one another.

Grace, who is 10 years old, mentioned that they have been talking about what their elementary school was like and learning more about each other, including favorite foods and colors.

The children have learned what living with dementia entails through their friendships.

"When it impacts you, you usually don’t lose memories from your childhood, but you might occasionally forget things you did recently," explained Kirsten, who is also 11 years old.

Grace mentioned that she had learned how to assist individuals with dementia and emphasized the importance of being patient.

"They might just require a little more time to recall things," she said.

As per Riverdale’s vice-principal Laura Totton, studying dementia means understanding both life and the nearby neighborhood.

She stated that this is an issue which will affect children in the future, possibly through interactions with their extended family members. It’s crucial, therefore, that we teach them about it and also involve the broader community so they can understand what goes on in our schools.

It's crucial for children to grasp that these residents were once their age too, allowing them to connect with them better.

What are the locals' thoughts regarding their connection with the main elementary school students?

Maisie and Sadie both live at St Paul's Court.

They have relished interacting with the children and recalling their own youthful days.

Maisie mentioned her passion for music and singing, which she enthusiastically combined with an interest in netball.

She has become acquaintances with several of the students.

She mentioned, 'There were three or four of them perched on the chair next to me, and it was delightful.'

The folks are wonderful, and so are the children.

"She lifted me up," Sadie stated.

You're dwelling on how you once were and everything associated with that.

I am excited about their arrival.

But Sadie admitted that playing boccia - which is a form of bowls - with the children had brought out her competitive side.

"I may not be very skilled yet, but I am improving gradually," she chuckled.

A curse word slips out sometimes!

What methods can be used to educate young kids about dementia?

Riverdale Primary welcomed Tracy Smyth from Praxis Care to educate students about dementia prior to their connection with residents at St Paul's Court.

She mentioned that instructing the students required a method that was both delicate and suitable for their age.

Mrs. Smyth employed a method from the Alzheimer's Society that instructed the children on becoming "Dementia Friends."

"A disease of the brain is just like any other illness," she stated.

Breaking it down into such terms and understanding its impact on someone, the children truly absorbed all the information.

I think it helps reduce that anxiety and nearly fearful feeling some children experience—since we often fear things we are unfamiliar with.

For her, both personal and professional reasons drive her forward.

She mentioned, 'My grandmother suffered from dementia, and being a young child, I didn’t comprehend the reasons behind witnessing alterations in her behavior. Despite this, I adored her deeply,'

As a child, the sole conclusion I reached was that it must have been my fault, that I had somehow erred.

I promised that no child would harbor this misunderstanding or believe such about their grandparents.

• 'Even with dementia, you can still enjoy yourself.'

• 'I wish for global discussions on dementia.'

• Individuals affected by dementia enjoy a tram excursion.