Holiday activities are a great way to enjoy a change of pace from your normal routine. For seniors, themed celebrations provide ideal opportunities to make special memories with their grandchildren and share family traditions. If you are planning time together with your family this Easter season, here are eight activities you might want to consider when scheduling a visit.
Though it's not certain when decorating eggs for Easter first began, there are references to the tradition dating back hundreds of years. There are many ways for seniors to set up a decorating activity for their grandchildren during a visit, including a few mess-free options that don't include dyeing the eggs.
The easiest way to dress up eggs without a mess is to use plastic eggs and stickers. This is especially good for young children who don't have the motor skills for complex art projects. These eggs can be used later in other activities such as rolls and hunts.
Decorating eggs with paint, markers and stickers is also a good alternative to dyeing eggs. Supplies can be customized to match your grandchildrens' age and interests, and the eggs can be used as a display afterward.
If you want to put a spin on hunting for eggs this year, hunting Easter eggs in the dark may be just the thing. Teens and older children, in particular, may enjoy the twist on the classic activity.
There are many tips on the internet about how to get the eggs to shine, including using glow sticks, tea lights and specially designed glow-in-the-dark eggs.
The hunt can be held indoors with the lights off or outdoors at dusk, so the timing is flexible and can be customized to fit your family's visit.
Adults and children alike enjoy coloring, making it a tried-and-true activity for groups with a wide variety of ages of participants.
Coloring pages can be printed for free from a number of websites, and difficulty ranges from simple to complex pictures, letting seniors easily tailor the activity to their own family's abilities and preferences.
Residents here at Bethesda Gardens Loveland are encouraged to use our computer lab when looking for Easter resources and to ask staff members if they need assistance accessing the web or using a printer.
From Peter Cottontail to Jesus Loves Me, there are many songs to choose from during sing-a-longs for seniors looking for an interactive activity this Easter.
If you have members of the family who can play an instrument, ask if they would like to bring it along during your visit and provide accompaniment.
If you don't have a musician in the family, music videos are easy to find and play from a phone or tablet with classic kids' tunes, hymns and worship songs among the potential soundtracks.
Snuggling on the couch reading can be a great way to spend time together during a family visit. This can be particularly true during the Easter season when spring rains make outdoor activities difficult.
Seniors looking for books can check out the library here in our Loveland community or visit the local library during a scheduled outing. In addition to stand-alone books about Easter, there are many beloved picture book series that have Easter titles, including The Berenstain Bears and Caillou.
Another good indoor Easter activity is streaming a movie or show. Many seniors already subscribe to services, such as Netflix, that have many classic Easter specials available for viewing.
Tubi is another free streaming option, and it has a large number of faith-based shows and CBN's Superbook. Seniors can set up a free account to access full-length episodes and watch shows from three seasons, including several Easter-based stories such as The Last Supper, He Is Risen and Peter's Denial.
Easter and spring go hand-in-hand, so seniors may want to consider adding spring-themed activities to their schedule. Planting flowers and plants is a fun way to prepare for the warm weather months, and many plants such as petunias, lamb's-ear and daisies are easy to grow.
Children can also decorate their flower pots for even more fun. These simple projects use paint and washi tape to create big splashes of color and personality.
Due to its hands-on nature, cooking is a popular activity for most children, especially because they are rewarded for their efforts with a tasty treat when done.
Several cute Easter snacks, including fruit kabobs decorated with Peeps, candy-egg-filled Rice Krispy Treats and Easter Egg Nests, can be prepared in senior living apartments using just a kitchenette and microwave.
Residents with favorite family recipes that require an oven or stovetop can talk with staff members about the use of our country kitchen here at Bethesda Gardens Loveland. It's open for use during family visits, as is our private dining room, which can be reserved for parties and special events.
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Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
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