Eight Family-Friendly Holiday Activities to Enjoy with Seniors
Author: Home Helpers Home Care
Holiday Activities to Help You Spend Quality Time with Your Loved Ones and Help Bring the Family Together
For many, the holiday season is a time of joy dedicated to spending quality time with loved ones and making lasting memories. It’s a time when shared holiday activities bring us closer and create a sense of connection. However, for some, especially older people, it can be a lonely, stressful, or difficult time of year.
As we age, traditions and family dynamics change. It’s not uncommon for an older individual to feel sad because they miss the “good old days” or a loved one or friend who has passed away.
Eight Holiday Activities the Whole Family Can Enjoy
Including older family members in your holiday activities and traditions – new or old – is one way to spread holiday cheer, relieve stress, and combat isolation.
Here are eight holiday activities that can involve the whole family regardless of age.
- BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE – Many historians believe the gingerbread house tradition originated in Germany during the 16th Century and became popular after the Brothers Grimm published the famous story of Hansel and Gretel. Today, they are widely associated with the holiday season and are often used for decoration. At home, gingerbread house kits are a family-friendly activity that can be built and decorated with icing, gumdrops, and other colorful candies.
- DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE – Perhaps the most common holiday tradition in America is decorating a tree. Whether it’s real or artificial, decorating it with lights, garland or ribbon, ornaments, a tree topper, and, if it tickles your fancy, a pickle, is a fun activity the entire family can enjoy together.
- WATCH CLASSIC MOVIES – A Charlie Brown Christmas. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s a reason holiday movies are ranked among Americans’ favorite seasonal rituals. Snuggling up on the couch with a steamy cup of hot cocoa and enjoying your favorite holiday classics with the family is a wonderful way to embrace the season’s joy.
- Sharing these moments with loved ones each year brings about feelings of warmth, connection, and love. Enjoying famous movie clips, such as when the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes after realizing the true meaning of Christmas or when Zuzu Bailey tells her father, “Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings,” transcend generations, and become traditions that can be passed down.
- BAKE HOLIDAY COOKIES – Baking cookies is a popular holiday activity the entire family can enjoy together. According to the American Baking Association, nine in 10 Americans bake cookies during the holiday season, and 61% bake three or more batches.
Baking offers the opportunity to bond with family members you may not see all the time, share stories from the past, and pass on family traditions to the younger generation. Additionally, baking may present learning opportunities and foster a sense of accomplishment. - HOST FAMILY GAME NIGHT – Whether you enjoy card games, trivia, or the classics like Candy Land or the Game of Life, playing games as a family has many benefits. It’s a great way to keep older people’s brains engaged and mentally sharp. They can also help promote teamwork, teach problem-solving, and help develop fine motor skills, skills that are beneficial for any age group.
- SING HOLIDAY CAROLS – Nothing gets you into the holiday spirit like singing along to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” next to a roaring fire. Singing carols together as a family is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and make memories together. There also may be opportunities to sing holiday carols at your local hospital, nursing home, or senior community center. As one wise elf once said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
- ATTEND HOLIDAY CONCERTS – Whether it’s at the local theater, school, church, or community center, holiday concerts are perhaps just as common as hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Different types of concerts, such as live choir, band, or a combination of the two, are designed to appeal to many different audiences. These concerts can spark warm memories for older family members and introduce younger ones to cherished traditions.
A handbell choir concert is one of the most popular concerts to attend during the holiday season. The bells have a bright, festive sound that perfectly complements traditional holiday music and carols. The synchronized movements of the performers make it a captivating visual performance as well as an elegant musical performance. - ENJOY HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOWS – Illuminating homes and public spaces during the holiday season became prevalent after World War II due to the rise of the suburbs and the affordability of the lights. Since then, it’s become a holiday staple. Today, an estimated 150 million light sets are sold in America each year and light approximately 80 million homes.
- Whether you go to an official “festival of lights” display or just drive around your neighborhood and enjoy them, holiday light displays bring the family together to celebrate, reflect, and share in the festive spirit.
How Home Helpers® Home Care Can Help During the Holidays
Feelings of loneliness can intensify during the holidays, especially for those without close family or friends. If you live far from your aging loved one and are worried about them this holiday season, Home Helpers® Home Care is here to help.
For over 25 years, we have been the extended family when family can’t be there for seniors, veterans, new moms and families, and those with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury or surgery.
Our companion care services include playing cards and games, doing puzzles, playing or listening to music, shopping, looking through photo albums, and going to social events. Our services and care plans are customizable, so you receive just the right amount of care and can be adjusted as needs change.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES, CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME CARE ASSESSMENT OR FIND AN AGENCY NEAR YOU.