Why should kids get all the fun with the newest holiday tradition? Elf on the Shelf is an activity where people place a small elf doll in a different spot each day in December. So, each morning, place your elf somewhere for your residents to find. The first resident who finds it wins and gets a daily prize. To keep it fair, a resident can only win once and they could help recreation staff hide it the next day. This game could also be played in teams.
Who doesn’t love an excuse to dress up in fancy hats and eat pastries, snack on cucumber sandwiches, and drink tea out of china cups? Celebrate International Tea Day with tea and sandwiches, scones and jams, and cakes and sweets. You can set the scene with seasonal flowers, doilies, bowls, teacups, nice napkins, lace tablecloths, and some baroque music.
You could turn it up a notch by bringing in someone who “reads” tea leaves! Remember to take photos!
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter printed on each side. It is used during Chanukah to play a popular children's game that involves spinning the dreidel and betting on which Hebrew letter will be showing when the dreidel stops spinning. Children usually play for a pot of gelt — chocolate coins covered in gold-colored tin foil. Jewish tradition has it that a game similar to the dreidel was popular during the rule of Antiochus IV, who ruled in present-day Syria during the second century BCE. During this period, Jewish people were not free to openly practice their religion, so when they gathered to study the Torah, they would bring a top with them. If soldiers appeared, they would quickly hide what they were studying and pretend to be playing a gambling game with the top.
Get your residents together during Chanukah for some games of Dreidel! Here’s how to play:
Supplies:
Set up:
At the beginning of the game, players sit around the table or on the floor in a circle. Each player is given an equal number of gelt pieces or candy, usually ten to fifteen. At the beginning of each round, every player puts one piece of gelt into the center "pot."
How to play:
Players take turns spinning the dreidel. Each of the Hebrew letters has a specific meaning as well as a significance in the game:
Once a player runs out of game pieces they are out of the game.
Chanukah is known as the festival of lights, and for those Jewish residents or residents who would like to participate in the celebrations, it’s a great time to gather together. In keeping with the story of oil lasting a miraculous eight days, much of the traditional food is fried, including the delicious latke. These fried potato pancakes are made with shredded potatoes and onions that get crisped up and served with applesauce, sour cream, or salmon. Spend the afternoon with your residents making latkes (here’s a recipe to get you started) and follow it by the lighting of the Menorah. Make the lighting a part of your routine for the eight nights of Chanukah.
To celebrate International Volunteer Day on December 5th, organize an opportunity for your residents to give back to a cause in your local community. Maybe it’s holding a silent auction or fundraiser to raise money for a local charity, maybe it’s getting residents together to knit clothing items for those experiencing homelessness, maybe it’s putting together holiday baskets for families in need. Many seniors spend or spent time volunteering and giving back to their communities, so we’re sure they would love an opportunity to do so on December 5th.
Many older adults have become more tech savvy these past few years due to the need for social distancing. But for residents who may be less comfortable with tech, you can host learning sessions for them to learn how to use a computer to send emails to loved ones, look up information they’re interested in, or even create a social media account to stay up to date on what their kids and grandkids are up to. You could invite high school students in to help provide some more one-on-one support for your residents!
Hats, hats, hats galore! Host an afternoon tea party for your residents where they are encouraged to wear their most fabulous hats! Get your culinary team involved to make tea, triangle sandwiches, and mini baked goods. Invite an entertainer for some music and encourage your residents to mix and mingle, discussing the history of their caps!
What a fun, quirky holiday that gives residents the opportunity to share their unique, individual talents. Invite family and friends to attend a talent show of your residents where they show off something they are good at. Maybe it’s a great impression, excellent whistling, drawing portraits, singing. Everyone has something they’re good at that they can share with the world!
Thanksgiving gives us an amazing opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and share in a delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and our personal favourite, stuffing. Did we mention that dinner is topped off with pumpkin pie and whipped cream for dessert?
Get your dining team involved in hosting a feast for your residents. While they take care of the food, you and your team can take care of adding a few Thanksgiving themed decorations for a nice touch: pumpkins, gourd centrepieces, and leaf wreaths. To add a special touch, create a tree trunk and branches on a large piece of butcher paper and hang it on your wall. Provide your residents with pre-cut paper leaves and ask them to write what they’re thankful for on their leaves. Attach the leaves to the tree branches with tape or glue. And just so you know, this year, we at Welbi are thankful for all of you!
Did you know Monopoly was invented 118 years ago? It continues to be a popular, favourite game for millions of people of all ages with spin-offs like Star Wars Monopoly. Put on your banker cap, gather your residents together, and play a game or games of Monopoly to see who can come out the winner. Send us photos of your residents playing with their top hats and boots and snagging those coveted Park Place and Boardwalk spots!
