Care Home Shares Love Of Reading With School Children
Mandale House Receives Visit From Local School In National Story Telling Week
Residents at a local care home in Stockton-on-Tees were spun a tall tale thanks to the children from St Patricks Primary School who visited the care home in conjunction with National Story Telling Week.
Fourteen children visited the Mandale House care home in Thornaby on 5th February with their favourite novels in hand. The residents were then treated to some classic tales when the children split into pairs and read to individual residents.
Once upon a time, the art of storytelling was the first way of communicating life experiences and has become a way of crafting creative imagination – something which came easily to both the residents and children who enjoyed the afternoon sharing stories and memories.
Chris Reason, Manager of Mandale House said: “It is lovely to see members of the local community, particularly the children, get involved with the care home.
“Story telling is often a trigger for memory and so the visit allowed our residents to reminisce and remember past experiences and share them to the children. I think it not only inspired the children to carry on reading but it has also stirred the residents’ creative side and stimulated their imagination. “
Mandale House, a part of the Hill Care group of care homes, hosted the event as part of a wider activities schedule designed to engage with the community and help provide opportunities to keep active – both mentally and physically.
Liz said: “This was a great initiative which provided an opportunity for the children to meet with some people who have lived in the area for a very long time, whilst the residents were able to talk a little about the stories they loved growing up.
“At Hill Care we’re forever thinking of new and exciting ways to keep everyone active, including chair aerobics, local musicians and a few fetes taking place this summer.”