Local toddler group joins Shinfield care home for a journey into Christmas past

Old festive traditions came to life at a care home in Shinfield, where residents welcomed a local toddler group for a day of seasonal activities. 

Care UK’s Parsons Grange, on Westall Street, joined forces with young visitors from Butterfly Buddies to revisit customs from Christmas past.

The event was part of Care UK’s ‘Step into Christmas’ initiative, which aims to revive residents’ festive traditions, encouraging them to share memories with the local community and the younger generation. 

By blending storytelling, crafts and carol singing, the events create a space for meaningful intergenerational connection. 

On the day, residents were joined by children from the local toddler group, Butterfly Buddies, alongside a very special guest – Father Christmas! Throughout the afternoon, the children had an opportunity to meet and talk to Santa, who gave each child an early Christmas present, before rejoining the residents who shared stories and memories with the children about how Christmas looked in their own youth.

Resident Ellen, 96, said of the visit: “It was absolutely magical to spend the day with the children and with Father Christmas. Seeing the excitement on their faces when they realised we had a special guest was wonderful too, it made my Christmas! It was by far the best event I have been to in a long time.”

Rozina Ali, Home Manager at Parsons Grange, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year, and this event allowed us to honour those memories from residents’ childhoods of meeting Father Christmas with their own families.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring different generations together for a day of festive cheer. It was truly heartwarming to watch residents reminisce and share stories from Christmases gone by. 

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Butterfly Buddies for joining us and making the day so joyous for all involved! Their presence brought an extra sparkle to the day.”

For more information about Step into Christmas, visit https://www.careuk.com/Step-into-Christmas.  

Parsons Grange provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, the care home has plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, as well as its own café, hair salon, and a cinema for residents to enjoy.