St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

Have a Green Sherbert "Sundae" social.  Serve green sherbert with green sprinkles on top or green sherbert gingerale floats (or punch).  Play Irish music.

Have cookie decorating with green icing and sprinkles.  Or make green sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks.

Have your participants make all the decorations in advance: 1)Shamrock place mats for the tables 2) Shamrocks for the walls complete with green glitter! 3) Make Kiss Me I'm Irish buttons for participants to wear. 4) Place gold coins on tables.  5) Make centerpieces.

Celebrate National Craft Month

Host a special craft once a week with a guest craft instructor.  Contact your local parks and recreation department or arts council for some volunteer or if able, hire an instructor. Visit a local craft show in your area or a museum with an special art or craft exhibition.

Talent Show

Sign your clients up for talent show!  Invite the staff and family members to participate.  Don't be hesitant to "assign" talents if need be and assist individuals in practicing and perfecting their talent.  Encourage group participation.  Suggestions for talent include: dancing, present a song (karaoke works! or sing-a-long material), read poetry or read their own poem, and presenting skits.  I've had creative groups do skits, especially when they were encouraged to do so or were provided the material.  The most important part of a talent show is having a sense of humor and having FUN!

Partner with the Girl Scouts

The 3rd week in March is Girl Scouts week.  Partner with a local troop to do a project or program at your facility and have your clients assist.  Find your local council at http://www.girlscouts.org/councilfinder/.  If you are in Georgia, take a field trip to Savannah to visit where the Girl Scouts began.

March Madness

Post up a tournament board for basketball's March Madness.  Print a mini bracket sheet for those clients interested and have a "pickin" contest to see who predicts the most winners.

Making Exercise Fun!

Making Exercise Fun


-Use Props-
Hand weights
Bar
Ribbons
Balls or Mini medicine balls
Balloons
Parachute
Items can be purchased at www.ssww.com or  www.flaghouse.com 


-Music-
Make sure the music you use is fitted to your clients' taste.  Using modern aerobics music may not be as effective in creating a fun environment, so try what works for your group. http://www.fitnessav.ca/Seniors-Fitness-Music-s/92.htm or http://www.powermusic.com/ for music selections


-Seated Chair or Standing Dance- 
When teaching a dance from sitting, teach one step at a time before adding music or add a slower paced music and modify the leg work. Suggestions are the Macarena, Electric Slide, or the Hokey Pokey which you can sing together without music.  


-Modified Yoga Stretches-
There are several websites to give you a selection of  yoga chair stretches you can lead yourself
Chair Yoga, Printable Yoga Exercises

http://getfitwhereyousit.com/

http://www.yogaheart.com/


-Try a something you haven't before:-
Tai Chi or Qigong: These sessions don't have to cost you money for an instructor or a training session for yourself.  Check out a video from your local library!
Aquatic Arthritis or Fibromyalgia classes- If you don't have a pool, check with your local wellness center to see if they will tailor a class for your clients.

Relaxation Techniques: Guided Imagery

Learn to lead your group in a relaxation session with guided imagery. Or find some sessions you like on You Tube and play them for your group.  A good session will last at least 10 to 15 minutes.  You will need a quiet and relaxing room with quiet, relaxing music.  This activity is good for a small group who does not have issues with concentrating or with one individual.

Host a Support Group

Host a support group for the local chapter of a common diagnosis such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, arthritis, MR, CP, MS, or those with mental health diagnoses. Invite family members of those who are affected.  Encourage your clients to attend.  Or start your own support group and invite professionals to host various topics.

Women's Poker Game

The men usually get together to play poker and often exclude the women.  Have a special women's only poker event.  Make it special by serving drinks and food.  Use candy or another popular item as "chips".

Memory and Recognition Games

Variation of the Memory Game (for 1-2 people)- Using 4 to 9 pictures depending on ability level, arrange pictures in an order and allow the player to view the pictures for a period of time.  Take up the pictures have the player arrange the pictures the way originally displayed.  Difficulty: Very hard

Picture Bingo- Create your own Bingo cards using pictures (or download some versions off the Internet) or graphics and give clues to describe the picture for players.  Difficulty: Moderate

Jingo- A version of Picture Bingo.  You will need a Jingo game which comes in several different themes.  Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Pokerkeeno- A Bingo type game with the cards picturing playing cards instead of numbers and letters.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Take Advantage of VSA Arts

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.

With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is providing arts and education programming for youth and adults with disabilities around the world.

Through their community events programs, your clients can enjoy many free or reduced rates for shows, museums and other events.

My clients have enjoyed various off-broadway shows, ballet, opera, museum discounts on special exhibitions, and the circus.  Every state has an affiliate. Membership includes a sliding scale based on your budget, however, the rates are extraodinarily low for the opportunities your clients receive.  

http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/vsa/affiliates/usa.cfm  

Contact your state affliate for more information and other educational opportunities for your clients through VSA Arts.  

Trivia Games

Trivial Pursuit
- Don't use the board, just the questions.  Divide up into 2 teams with team captains and compete against one another.  If one team doesn't get the answer, the opposing team can "steal" the point.  Play up to time is up or 20 points.

Theme trivia 
Played as above
-Pick a holiday theme
-Pick a celebration i.e. Black History month or Breast Cancer Awareness Month, etc.
Or
-Topic i.e. television of the 50s, sports, geography.  There are lots of popular topics at www.funtrivia.com

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Word Games

Pick from one of the following word games based on the level of your group:

Word Board Games:
Scrabble
Boggle
Wheel of Fortune - You can make your own "wheel" to spin and use an erase board or flip chart

Word Games using an erase board or flip chart:
Word Unscramble- Scramble the letters of a word, divide your group into individual opponents or teams to see who get the most words.

Word Creations - Choose a word, preferably a long word, and see how many words your group can come up with using any of the letters in the original word.

Hangman

Other related games:
Giant crossword puzzles available from various activity suppliers.  Great for a small group.
Giant Soduku - Use a flipchart to make the board

Book Club

Gatther a group of participants willing to help lead a book club by leading discussion and choosing a book from month to month. This takes a dedicated group of people with an intellectual interest in exploring various books. Or involve the local library for discussion leaders.

Beauty Day

Arrange some volunteers to help pamper the women with a spa hand treatment:  paint nails and massage hands.  Or do it yourself and schedule appointment times.

Collection for a Local Pet Shelter

Start a collection of old towels, blankets, sheets and other needed items for a local pet shelter.  Once the collection is complete, arrange a trip to the agency to drop off the items.

Local Historic Site

Contact your local historical society and have them present on a local historic site at your facility or go and tour the site.

Men's Pancake Breakfast

Have an event just for the men.  Invite someone to do a local program of men's interest.  A good resource is the local library for speakers.

Craft: Paintable Stained Glass

Materials:  Various glass stain bottles from any craft store
                Stained glass (plastic) premade forms from www.ssww.com or Hobby Lobby
                Paper clip or push pin to pop bubbles
                Paper towels or kleenex for mistakes
                Q-tips for mistakes

S & S Worldwide makes inexpensive and numerous paintable stained glass.  Words well for lower to high functioning individuals.  The paint is squeezed onto the space not requiring paint brushes.  Use a Q-tip to absorb excess paint, although do not swirl it around as this creates bubbles.  Pop bubbles that form with pin.

Scavenger Hunt

A good one-on-one or small group activity is a Scavenger Hunt.  Whoever gets the most items in the time frame given wins! The following is an example or make up your own:



You need the signature of the person giving the item beside each item listed.

_________________________ a movie ticket stub
_________________________ a chocolate chip cookie recipe
_________________________ a bar of hotel soap
_________________________ a word search puzzle
_________________________ a pack of takeout ketchup
_________________________ a popsicle stick
_________________________ an old cd
_________________________ a used stamp
_________________________ a colored napkin
_________________________ a plastic fork
_________________________ a balloon
_________________________ a birthday candle
_________________________ a Christmas card
_________________________ a can of pop
_________________________ a paper grocery bag
_________________________ a used printer cartridge
_________________________ a tea bag
_________________________ a potato
_________________________ a magazine
_________________________ a fast food coupon
_________________________ a hanger
_________________________ a spool of thread
_________________________ a 1990 penny
_________________________ an elastic band
_________________________ a tape case
_________________________ a grocery receipt

Large Group Game: Bunco

If you are looking for a large group activity (16 +) that is social, active, and fun that is not complicated, Bunco is it!  Bunco is a basic dice game, and requires constant changes places at playing tables to get the chance to play with everyone.  The rules for Bunco are found at www.buncorules.com - an excellent source.

Group Game: Sequence

Sequence is a board game that is fairly simple in execution but great for a group of 6 or so.  Purchase the large game board.  Is it a card matching and strategy game similar to Bingo or Pokerkeeno. It's worth the investment and works well with prizes for the winners.  Lasts about 45 min to an hour with 6 or more players and there are 2 people to a team.  Also works well for some who are lower functioning but can at least match playing cards.  Excellent physical rehab and community based game.

Craft: Mosaic Tiling

Great one to one or group activity that covers several sessions.  Is messy but reveals a beautiful product the participants are proud of and love!

Materials:   Wooden picture frames (or some other flat surface decorative piece)
                  Mosaic tiles
                  Tile adhesive
                  Grout
                  Spacers (Optional)
                  Grout applicator
                  Grout sealer
                  Damp towel

Directions:  Lay surface flat and wipe excess dust or dirt.  Arrange tiles in a desirable pattern, making sure there is 1-2 mm of space on all sides of tiles.  Glue on tiles.  Allow to dry over night and make sure each tile is secure.  Mix grout (follow pkg directions) and apply with grout applicator making sure all the spaces are filled in.  As it begins to set, wipe surface with damp towel to reveal surface of tiles.  May need to let dry for a while before wiping.  Make sure edges are covered with grout and smooth.  After the grout has set for some time (one to two weeks) apply grout sealer.

Pot Luck or Group Meal

Does someone really like to cook?  If you have a kitchen, have them cook a meal for their hall/team or have the group pitch in to make various dishes to bring to a pot luck.  This may mean you are doing a lot of the cooking with the patients, but giving the opportunity for the participants to either cook again or learn another dish, along with the social aspect make it worthwhile.  If the participants can't cook themselves, have them help with the preparation and/or clean up.  One of my favorite activities!!!

Outing: Local Humane Society

Maybe you already have a pet therapy group.  This time that your group to the Humane Society or similar shelter to pet the animals there.  Advertise it as a volunteer opportunity to give back!

Bake Biscuits (or other baking specialty)

If you have a participant who is a good baker, have them teach the group or just work one on one to bake biscuits.  Depending on the setting, many haven't made biscuits or a favorite pastry in a long time.  If you don't have access to a resident kitchen, ask to bake them in the master kitchen.

Materials:  Buttermilk

                 Crisco or butter

                 Self rising flour

                 Cup or biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits

                 Flour sifter

                 pan                 

Optional- measuring spoons depending on the cook!

Spanish style "Happy Hour"

Serve nonalcoholic (or alcoholic!) Sangria with chips and salsa.

Functional "Sorry"

Physical activity idea:  Functional or Exercise "Sorry" Game for a small group. 1 hour+

Materials:  Sorry board game

                 Index cards with exercises and number of spaces to move forward

Directions:   The cards in the game are replaced by homemade cards that have an activity the person is to do and the number of spaces to move forward.  Examples are, "Walk to the water fountain and back," "Tell the group where you are from and stand to shake the persons had across from you."  You'll need at least 20 different activities or more.  Keep them simple.  The idea is to increase socialization and physical activity with simple requests while trying to win.  The person who makes it around the board with their pawns first wins.   This a fun and active game that gets people going without being boring.  

Other card examples:

Touch your toes 10 times

Do 10 arm circles

Do 10 leg raises

Do 10 knee raises

Tell the group what you want for dinner

Propagating New Plants

One to one activity:  Propagating new plants.

Choose 2 or 3 plants for which you would like to make new plants from.  15 to 30 min activity

Materials- Old egg carton, or mini planters
                 Soil and spoon or dowel
                 Scissors or plant sheers
                 Planting hormone (liquid can get at a nursery)
                 Cover- something plastic or glass and see through
                 Water

Directions:  Where there is new growth, cut at the main stem.  Shave back the outer layer of the stem with fingernail or scissors.  Dip edge in hormone, plant with soil in mini planters, water, cover with cover provided or with plastic cover (saran wrap works)- this creates a greenhouse effect.  Old canners work well also.  Place in sunlight.  The cover keeps the moisture in and reduces watering.  Once the plant has produced roots, transplant to larger planter in a week or two.

Outing to Pub

For St. Patrick's Day, take your participants to a local Irish pub for a late lunch and some real Irish beer.