A+ Activities

THANK YOU to Jerry Brown for submitting the following idea: 

 

I have an electric piano that I take to the rooms of the bed bound patients.  Depending on the age, I play music that I think was popular in their period of growing up.. I play hymns. Sometimes, I take other wheel chair patients in with me and we all sing songs together.  Remarkable things have happened.  People that never talked, or listened, or responded to other things responded to this.

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THANK YOU to Laurie Tighe for submitting the following idea:

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The Memory Game

 

1 round tablecloth (plastic from dollar store)

Divide equal sections on tablecloth

In each section have a category eg. an Easter themed game could have my favorite foods at Easter

My favorite Flower for Easter

My best Easter

My favorite Easter Song/ sing the song

My worst Easter

My favorite Easter tradition

Tell a Joke

 

A Christmas themed one would have My best Christmas, My favorite Christmas tradition, foods, songs, movies....

The themes are endless and the mats can be decorated with stickers, drawings, sparkles...

 

Sit residents in circle around tablecloth use beanbag have residents go around circle and each toss beanbag and follow the instructions or answer the question in the section you land.

 

Awesome getting to know you game to play with new residents.

It is surprising how much you can learn about your residents with this simple, engaging, game!

Have fun!

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THANK YOU to Dianne Hamilton for submitting the following idea:

 

Opposites Bingo

I recently made a game called opposites bingo. It was a bit of work but worth it and they love it.  I got a list of opposites (need plenty) eg hot – cold, up – down - - look for them on the internet, its easier.

I broke the list  up into lots of 9 or 12, depending how many you want on each bingo card. Then you need to go through the list and change the groups around so that you don’t end up with 2 cards the same – this is why you need to get a big list in the first place.   Then cut out cardboard to desired card size and put your 9 or 12 words. You need to keep a list of the all the ones you used. Then you need to make small cards for yourself as caller to call out. So you call out a word and they need to mark the opposite. But I found that on my list to check off I had to put them in alphabetical order of the ones they marked not the ones I called as it is too hard check it off when they have won and call it back to the caller. Or, if they ask to check if one has been called or not. Don’t put too more than 12 on a card and don’t give them too many cards, I give 2 each or they get confused and miss too many.

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THANK YOU to Jerry Brown for submitting the following idea:

 

Cut strips of different colored streamers. Teach them figure 8's, horizontals, up and down pops, side to side swings, put a routine together, play upbeat music and use routine...can line up and do peel offs.

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THANK YOU to Aurora Crew
Nursing Home TR dept., Philadelphia, PA for submitting the following ideas:

 

Easter Bonnet decorating contest:
Residents who are interested can decorate large bonnets with everything from flowers, to beads, to lace, and wear them to a big party with all residents where prizes are given out to everyone. Prizes can be best hat, funniest hat, most decorated hat, simplest hat, etc.  Residents really get a kick out of this activity, especially if food is provided at the party.

Easter Egg decorating:
Have some residents in a cooking group dye eggs after hard boiling them.  This activity brings back many childhood memories and is very
easy.

or

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If you are looking for Easter decorations, have an arts and crafts group decorate plastic eggs with tissue paper and add modge podge around the eggs so that the paper doesn't come off.  They can decorate them with one color or they can use many colors for a sort of stained glass effect.  If they miss spots, it's okay, because the plastic eggs are already covered.  When the eggs are finished, hang them from the ceilings and in windows.

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THANK YOU to Rebecca Phillips for submitting the following idea:

 

Hand Turkey

Place your hand on brown construction paper

Trace your palm with fingers spread apart

The thumb print in the neck/head

The fingers are the feathers

Use silk feathers, glitter or other material to create a colorful turkey

Glue on a beak and a gobble to the thumb print

Make feet/legs out of pipe cleaners

 

This is an easy craft for any level of ability and personalized because it uses the hand of the artist.

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THANK YOU to Peggy Simpson for submitting the following idea:

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I run a day program for the developmentally challenged and we love doing this activity. We have actually adapted it to use on other holidays but my favorite is the fall version.
Fold a piece of construction paper ( a dark color works best) in half and cut  a leaf shape out of the center through both pieces.
Fold a piece of waxed paper in half and have the residents sprinkle several fall colors of grated crayons on the wax paper. Quickly and lightly iron the crayon just to melt it.
If you iron too long, it all blends together and makes brown. Put the wax paper inside the construction paper "frame" and trim it to fit. Glue it shut on all sides and hang in the window. When the sun shines through these, they are beautiful.

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