Intro
Let’s discover the richness of childhoods spent in Jamaica. It could be the mouth-watering aroma of spiced roast chicken wafting through the house on a Sunday. Helping mum make bulla cake and licking the sweet mixture off the spoon. Winning a game of dominoes against your big brother. Or dressing up for church on a Sunday.
Childhood memories from home, school and beyond are often easier to recall than something that happened yesterday. So, gather round with a lemonade and while away an afternoon sharing memories.
Reminiscence is a great activity to help people engage in conversations, especially if they’re feeling detached from the present. It’s good as a one-to-one or in a small group of 4.
What you need
- A list of questions to help prompt conversations and popular psalms - download resources
- Refreshments
* Lemonade, carrot juice or soursop juice
* Fried dumplings, breadfruit or bulla cake (see our ‘Jamaican bulla cake’ activity)
The Activity
- Set aside some time in the morning or afternoon to spend time reminiscing
- Bring the group or person to a quiet room or somewhere without distractions
- Start by asking the group one of the questions
- Let the conversation flow between you and the person if one to one, or the group
- Allow each person time to share their memories, as once a memory is triggered, it may take them in different directions to the original question
- Offer prompts to the group if they are struggling to recall
- Ask further questions if the person or group have finished sharing
- Continue for as long as the person or group is enjoying themselves
- Offer refreshments throughout the session or at the end
- Enjoy the drinks and foods, but don’t forget to bring them into the conversation, as they’re likely to trigger memories too
PDF Resource
PDF Resource 2
Top tip
If you’re working in a care home and aren’t of the same culture or background as the person you’re caring for, it can be difficult to help prompt memories – especially if the person struggles to communicate their life to you. Research online can help, but it’s best to involve families and friends. Our list of prompt questions – sourced with the help of 68-year-old, retired schoolteacher, Claudia Ferguson, – may also be useful.
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Reminiscence
