We all want to make the world a better place, regardless of our cognitive condition. When the Lady-Links visit our dear friends, those ladies in our community in cognitive decline, we find ways to help them contribute something positive to our time together. Engaging them in conversation through a Show and Tell activity provides an opportunity for them to share something about their skills and experiences. When they make a connection to the item we’ve brought to rekindle memories, we listen carefully to what they have to say. They become equals in our visit, with everyone engaging in shared experiences and opinions. It helps them maintain their sense of self-esteem and dignity, something that is important to all of us. The Lady-Links like to think that our Show and Tell visits make our world a better place!
The Lady-Links have discovered keys to make our Show and Tell visits successful. The item we bring can be anything. It’s what we do with it that’s important. We use the TALK method to bring the most benefits to this type of visit:
- Tell about the item you brought.
- Where you got it.
- How you use/ used it.
- What makes it meaningful to you.
- Ask meaningful questions regarding the item.
- Where or when have you seen something like this?
- Did you/do you have something like this and how did/do you use it?
- How could this have been (a) helpful or (b) fun or (c) special to have?
- Let everyone handle the item.
- Pass it around so that everyone has the opportunity to touch it.
- Call attention to its size, shape, colors, texture, weight.
- Keep the connection active.
- Call on each person by name.
- Listen carefully to what is said.
- Respond positively and specifically.
This “Happy Box” served as a meaningful Show and Tell item at a recent visit. The Lady-Link who brought it had filled it with items that made her happy. As she took out each item, she explained why she chose it, prompting the dear friends to share ideas about similar items that make them happy.
One of our Lady-Links has a collection of “green things” as she calls it. It’s always fun to see what she adds to her collection. Not only does this spur conversation about something similar from our memories, but it’s a great chance to talk about our favorite colors.
Fun items such as a Barbie doll collection are great for reminding us of our childhoods. We admit that none of us had Barbie dolls when we were young but we all recognized them as what some of our children or grandchildren chose. This led to memories of the dolls we had, most of which were baby dolls.
We had buttons and bowls at a recent Show and Tell visit. One of the Lady-Links brought an antique button collection. Her Lady-Link partner brought some bowls she made at a local ceramics center. It was fun to sort the buttons into the bowls and talk about clothing that we wore as children and teenagers.
Sometimes the object for our Show and Tell visits is an heirloom. One of our Lady-Links brought a christening dress that has been used in her family for generations.
Toys always bring lots of engaging conversation. This set of nesting dolls came from Europe.
From heirlooms to something as simple as a set of tote bags…Show and Tell provides ways to connect, share memories, enhance self-esteem and contribute something positive to the world we live in, no matter how small that world is.
The TALK method works…Show and Tell is a meaningful way to bring love and laughter into the lives of our dear friends and to us too!
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