Pizza party: Little chefs cook for dementia care home to mark Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day
A specialist dementia nursing home in Nottinghamshire welcomed nursery children to cook for its family members to mark Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day (13th September) — a fun initiative encouraging children to participate in meal preparation, whilst promoting nutrition and healthy eating habits.
Wren Hall, based in Selston, Nottinghamshire, sits next-door to Little Wrens nursery, which caters to preschool age children and invited them over to help the home’s chefs cook lunch for the residents at the home – who are referred to as family members.
When given the choice, the children decided to make pizza, as according to one little chef, you just “put them in the oven and eat it”, whilst another said “I want cheese” — so a take on the Italian cuisine seemed a plausible option. Pizza was also a big hit with the family members who gave positive reviews. Ann White, 85, who was initially taken aback by the idea of children preparing her meal, said that her pizza was "very good!"
Anita Astle MBE, owner and manager of Wren Hall, said: "Helping youngsters develop new skills and broaden their horizons is a huge part of the nursery experience – and intergenerational bonding is a huge part of our care offering. So, we’ll eagerly seize on any chance to marry the two together! The children loved the experience and so did the family members. And they did a great job on the pizzas, which were delicious!'
Lesley Boulton, the care home’s chef, said: "It was fantastic to have some extra hands in the kitchen. The excitement from the children brought a whole new level of energy to our cooking process. Their enthusiasm is contagious – and it was a really fun lunchtime."
The day's events highlight the benefits of intergenerational mixing, showcasing how shared experiences between young and old can inject fun and learning into care homes. Wren Hall continues to pioneer innovative approaches to dementia care, creating a thriving environment that also helps to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation in the elderly.
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, Wren Hall strives to provide a homely and friendly environment to help those living with dementia to achieve optimum independence. Part of this includes referring to those who reside in the home as ‘family members’ rather than residents.
Watch the little ones cook for family members here: https://youtu.be/LPa6Ynr1f-o.
For more information on Wren Hall, please visit https://wrenhall.com/ or for further information on Little Wrens, visit https://www.littlewrensnursery.com/.