Read for free until 7:33 PM
A night in the shopping center: Warnow Park in Rostock has become a “hotel” for children
Rostock.“It’s great here,” Jasmine and Juna babble. “We’ll stay up late at night!” Neil announces and laughs. For many it remains a childhood dream. For girls, this happens: they spend a night at the mall. Together with ten other preschool children from the day care center “Lütt Birkenkinner” and three teachers, the girls spend the night in Warnow Park on Rostock-Lütten Klein.
Read more after the announcement
Read more after the announcement
She invited the center’s director, Frank Middendorf, to do so. A sleepover party is a highlight of the last year of kindergarten for many six-year-olds. But just sleeping in the nursery? “It’s very boring,” says Middendorf. “This will be an experience Lütten will remember for the rest of their lives.”
The young ones put their beds, that is, sleeping bags, as thousands of Rostokers were last vaccinated against Corona. The room on the second floor is now empty. Tonight the former vaccination center became the party headquarters. The comfortable bed all night is ready, but no one thinks about sleeping. Emma screams: “We’re doing a disco!” Party sounds echo from the speakers, balloons fly around and little rascals dance. Teacher Jana Stahl laughs. They are so happy and unstoppable. We certainly don’t sleep for the blink of an eye.”
Photo gallery: sleepover party pictures
Read more after the announcement
Read more after the announcement
The night party started early: the kids of the daycare center had been having a good time in Warnow Park since the afternoon. First, boys and girls can fill their stomachs with soft ice cream in the ice cream parlor, then explore a police car and then experience working as a firefighter with the volunteer fire brigade.
It gets really exciting as of 8pm: the center doors close, and no one can get in or out. All shops, snack bars and Edeka are closed. Eating through supermarket shelves to your heart’s content is unfortunately not an option. Don’t get bored anyway. Kids can get off steam in the deserted hallways. The girls and boys had food to chill out in the afternoon and early evening: there was a choice of soft ice cream, burgers and Chinese food. An hour later it is refilled. “We have enough snacks with us,” Jana Stahl says.
Read also
But first, get down to the slopes: as soon as the escalators stop, one of them turns into a bowling alley. The kids want to clean the conveyor belt that takes customers to the stores on the first floor during store hours. It’s Ivo’s turn first and he throws the Schmackes. He hits! “I caught everyone,” he declared proudly. Breeder Maurice Fronck sets up the spikes again when the ball rolls down the tray again. Everyone gets their turn.
Read more after the announcement
Read more after the announcement
As the clock approaches 11 pm, the first signs of fatigue appear. A few children rub their eyes on the massage chairs that clients use to take a break during the day. But the heaviness of the bed is instantly forgotten when Jana Stahl rocks a surprise up her sleeve: Coins, curated by Frank Middendorf, with which kids can test out the mall’s swinging machines. Boys and girls don’t need to be asked twice, take the coins and rush in. Fiona jumps on an electric horse, and Finn-Joell and Ben swing in the fire truck. After the last coin disappears, you continue to the “dormitory”: the music plays again, and the party moves on to the next round, until the last coin is ready to go to sleep.
The night is short: at 7 a.m. the next morning it’s time to get out of bed. The children strengthen themselves with breakfast together before returning to the day care center. In addition to small gifts, they take with them the memory of perhaps a unique night party. Frank Middendorf is delighted that he was able to meet the needs of the daycare children. The merchant knows that if you inspire the children, you will win them over as customers of tomorrow and be for the good of their families. But even more than business acumen, he is driven by the desire to please both girls and boys. “Your laughter is simply the most beautiful thing.”
Written by Angie Bernstein