The Kentridge Senior Living Brings Story Corner to the Community

Planetary Scientist Carl Sagan once said, “One of the greatest gifts adults can give – to their offspring and to their society – is to read to children.”

Putting books into the hands of children and forming meaningful intergenerational relationships is a priority for Arrow Senior Living communities! To support our efforts, we have launched what we call “Arrow Story Corner.” Each month a resident records the reading of a children’s book that highlights an “Arrow Tradition,” and these stories are shared online for all to hear. This tradition has grown from our company-wide Black History Month Story Corners, where residents all around Arrow Communities read children’s books highlighting black figures in history.

To support small businesses and literacy efforts, we host a fundraiser and partner with the EyeSeeMe Children’s Bookstore to purchase and donate copies of the books we read to local schools, and then a portion of our fundraising efforts also support The EyeSeeMe Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to create programs that increase childhood literacy for under-served communities and to promote African American History and multicultural literature that will increase respect and tolerance for diverse cultures.

This month, The Kentridge Senior Living is taking things a step further and embarking on the adventure of monthly Story Corner events in our community. One of our very own residents will read the Story Corner book of the month to children, as well as other residents, and share in a craft event and snack time. The featured book will then be added to our community library for residents to read to visiting grandchildren. A copy of the book will also be donated to local schools with which our community partners.

Reading is one activity that can help us stay connected across generations. Knowing that residents enjoy reading allows kids to feel connected with them. Sharing a story creates the opportunity for learning and discussing what has been read and the great thing about it is you can “discuss” a book with a child or student of any age.

Putting the word out about Story Corner events will give families the opportunity to come to The Kentridge for a fun reading activity and encourage conversations across generations through storytelling. We know the elementary school we partner with has financially disadvantaged students. It has given us great joy to be able to donate new books to add to their school library. 

One of our residents had a wonderful experience reading a children’s book for a recorded Story Corner.  His family was able to show the recording to his great grandson, who lives out of state. The child was able to hear great grandpa reading a story to him in a new and different way. The family was very excited to have this opportunity and they treasure the recording. It is fun to share these Story Corner recordings because it brings back fond memories for the residents.

Goodnight Moon is a story that always comes up when I ask the residents what book they enjoyed reading to their kids. It is a calming and comforting book, and it was easy for the children to “memorize” and “chime in” as it was read. Another resident remembers loving to listen to his mother read “The Five Little Peppers” which was a book series published from 1881 to 1916 and authored by Margaret Sidney. They also liked reading holiday themed books to their children.

All our Arrow communities encourage adults to give the gift of reading to youngsters. The relationships formed during the time spent between the reader and listener can be life changing for both generations.