Clutching onto litter-pickers and shorter tongs, four- to six-year-olds from MapleBear Hillview recently raced across West Coast Park. Their mission? To hunt down fast-food packaging, discarded tissues, and plastic bottles.
“The children need to know that they cannot take Singapore’s cleanliness for granted, and that the materials we have used don't have to be thrown away — things can be upcycled,” shared educator Ng Siling. “We wanted them to learn how to help take care of the environment.”
Organised in collaboration with the Public Hygiene Council (PHC), the session was more than a cleanup; it was a classroom without walls. Children and educators were taught the nuances of urban hygiene – specifically which items are litter and which, like dead leaves, belong to the natural ecosystem.
The litter-picking activity is part of MapleBear Hillview’s efforts for their Start Small, Dream Big (SSDB) project. By choosing sustainability as their theme, the preschool has also set up recycling bins within their premises and ensured that event decorations are crafted from upcycled materials like cardboard boxes. The aim is to teach children about the three ‘R’s — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. By stepping out of the classroom and into the park, the preschool transforms abstract concepts into tangible life lessons.
Launched by the Early Childhood Development Agency in 2015, the SSDB movement has grown into a driving force for character building. Since then, it has been adopted by over 1,200 preschools. Through participation in meaningful activities, children are given the opportunity to put the values of compassion, responsibility, and resilience into practice.
This year’s theme, “With Every Child, We Shape Tomorrow”, reflects Singapore’s belief that the future of the nation is built on these values nurtured in its youngest hearts.
Recycling corners at MapleBear Hillview to reinforce the 3 ‘R’s.
The true success of the SSDB movement is found in the small, everyday actions of the children. Educators have observed them putting their lessons into practice, from picking up after themselves at preschool to reminding peers to keep common spaces clean.
“One child even proudly announced that he had thrown away tissue on the floor, while another told his mother that he wanted to go back to the park with her to continue picking up litter,” said Ms Ng.
Dr Liew noted that such partnerships allow PHC to reach out to children and inculcate in them the right values during the most formative stage of their development. “The cleanliness habits that they acquire during this stage will remain with them throughout their lives,” she added.
Emily Tan, Principal of MapleBear Hillview, believes that first-hand experiences are key.
NURTURING A COMMUNITY FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD
Children from PCF Sparkletots @ Boon Lay Blk 262 performing for seniors at All Saints Home.
This sentiment was echoed at All Saints Home, where preschoolers from PCF Sparkletots @ Boon Lay Blk 262 engaged with elderly residents. In one touching moment, two children cheered on a resident attempting to toss a ring onto a standing cone. Noticing her struggle, the children brought the target closer, ensuring her final toss was a success.
This empathy is exactly what the preschool’s partnership with the nursing home aims to nurture.
“The purpose of SSDB is to practice our core values — graciousness and respect — in real life. The seniors staying there have contributed to society and helped build present-day Singapore. They deserve respect and care from the younger generation,” said educator Guo Jia Ying.
The collaboration featured a range of activities including:
- Skill-Building: Games focused on hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
- Creative Arts: Joint sessions where seniors guided children, while in others, children helped with tasks like brushing glue onto paper.
- Performance: Singing and dance routines performed by the children.
The children from PCF Sparkletots @ Boon Lay Blk 262 engaging in arts and crafts activities with the elderly.
Pauline Tan, Senior Officer for Community Relations at All Saints Home, emphasised that these interactions are vital for the seniors’ psychosocial and mental well-being, preventing them from feeling isolated or lonely.
To ensure the visits were meaningful, educators prepared the children with role-play activities. They practiced how to communicate with residents who might have limited mobility or be hard of hearing. Following these sessions, the children reflected on their feelings and discussed how to better support the seniors.
The depth of the children’s empathy often surprised their educators. After learning about the difficulties that the elderly might face, one child was moved to tears, Ms Guo shared that the child expressed a desire to be kind to the elderly, hoping that others would treat her with that same kindness when she grows old.
Through these projects, the SSDB movement continues to prove that when you start small, the dreams – and the impact – can be incredibly big.
