Festive Season Activities: Bringing Everyone Together
As the festive season approaches, we’re planning activities to bring everyone together. We hope you enjoy these ideas and have a wonderful time celebrating with residents, friends, and family.
Here are a few festive ideas to share with your residents this holiday season:
1. Plan Your Christmas Open Day, Fayre, or Party
Christmas events are always full of joy, and residents love spending time with their loved ones. Here are some ways to make your Open Day, Fayre, or Party extra special:
- Biscuit and Cake Decorating: Encourage residents to decorate festive biscuits and cakes, which can be served during the event. The conversations and laughter around the table while decorating can be great fun, so consider taking notes and using them for the quiz activity below.
- Christmas Decorations: Keep the festive atmosphere alive by making garlands, wreaths, baubles, or Christmas cards. These activities are easy and enjoyable for all.
- Children’s Corner: If little ones are visiting, set up a space for colouring or drawing Christmas pictures. Display their artwork to add a personal touch to the event.
- Games Room: Keep visitors entertained with games like Potato Bowling—set up plastic bottles with a bit of water, pop Santa hats on them, and use potatoes (the knobbly ones work best) to knock them down! Board games and cards are great additions as well.
- Charades: Simple, fun, and perfect for all ages.
2. Make a Quiz: ‘Fun Facts About Us’
Get your residents involved in a quiz by hosting a ‘Fun Facts About Us’ session. Ask each resident to share a fun fact or event where things didn’t go to plan. Take notes and use these anecdotes to create quiz questions. For example, “Colin enjoys cooking Christmas dinner and bringing his family together—who would have guessed he was such a great chef?” Hold the quiz later in the week and call it ‘Who Dunnit?’ or ‘Whose Who?’. It’s a fantastic way to learn more about each other while having fun!
3. Care Homes Have Talent Competition
Why not organise a talent competition across care homes in your area or within your care home chain? Record your talented residents showcasing their skills, whether it’s singing, dancing, magic tricks, or even yo-yo or hula hoop performances. Share these recordings with other homes (after getting permission, of course) and vote for your top three acts.
Each home can vote for its top two performers, and then eliminate one. When only one contestant from each home remains, try to host a final event together. If that’s not possible, use a smart TV or PC to live stream via Teams and vote on the winner. Celebrate the winning act with a festive party! For larger care homes, this can also be done in-house.
Advent Begins: Sunday 1st December
The Advent season starts on Sunday 1st December and continues until Christmas Eve. It’s the perfect time to begin festive preparations and activities.
In the Garden
As we move into winter, now is the time to:
- Harvest Root Vegetables: Gather any remaining root vegetables and store them in a cool, dry, dark place.
- Pruning: Cut back bushes, roses, and lavender to prepare for the spring.
- Spring Bulbs: Make sure all your spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, are planted.
Free Activity Downloads
Looking for more ideas to keep everyone engaged? Visit our Free Activity Downloads section for a variety of creative ideas and worksheets to share with your residents.
New Products for the Festive Season
We’ve stocked up on Christmas art kits, gift ideas, and free downloads to make your holiday season extra special. Here are a few new products to check out:
- Magnetic Wall Game – Draughts: A fantastic gift for residents, encouraging activity and fun.
Product code: MWG03 - Christmas Garland Kit: Get ready to deck the halls with this 5-metre garland and accessories.
Product code: XGARK - Nutcracker Soldier Skittles: Charming wooden soldiers that double as table-top skittles for festive fun.
Product code: NCSKIT - Christmas Engagement Bundle: A nostalgic collection of products designed to bring people together through crafting, conversation, and fun.
Product code: XMASKIT
Final Whistle
If you’re hosting an Open Day or Event to raise funds for your care home, take advantage of our special offer! Spend your funds on our website before 31st January 2025 and get 15% off your order using the code FUND15 at checkout. Please note that all orders must be paid for at checkout.
If you have any requests or need assistance, please contact us at customers@activitiestoshare.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 07900 675150. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more updates and ideas!
