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Visitor restrictions during the pandemic have been difficult for nursing home residents. For many, the visitors they miss the most are the children. That’s why today I’m sharing ten fun activities that children and residents can enjoy through virtual visits.
Show & Tell
I know many of you enjoyed Show & Tell in elementary school. Do you remember the excitement you felt as you waited to share the special item you brought from home?
Virtual Show & Tell might be even more fun. That’s because a child can share almost anything. It could be their new trampoline, a meal they helped prepare, or even their new baby brother!
Practice A Skill
If a child is taking lessons to learn a new skill like piano or ballet, a virtual performance for nursing home residents becomes a valuable experience. It helps students get accustomed to performing in front of other people, and nursing home residents are usually nonjudgmental about any mistakes.
Virtual performances are particularly helpful if lessons stopped because of the pandemic. Residents can encourage the child to continue practicing and help hold them accountable to maintain or improve their skills.
Pet Visits
Many nursing homes restrict pet visits during the pandemic, and residents miss these special friends. That’s why they’ll enjoy virtual visits with children and their pets.
Pet visits work especially well for shy kids. They might feel uncomfortable having a virtual conversation with a resident, but it’s easier when they can show off their pets.
Help With Homework
Consider recruiting residents as a resource when a child needs help with homework. Elders can help talk through a math problem, quiz a child before a spelling test, or explain grammar problems in a paper.
Record A Life Story
We’re learning that recording one’s life story is a healthy project for older adults. Students can help by asking questions and assisting residents in developing their thoughts. They can also record the story for those who have difficulty with writing because of impaired vision or physical disabilities.
Younger children can come up with a list of questions to ask a resident and do a simple interview. Residents will get a kick out of the often humorous questions they devise.
Teach Each Other
My favorite example here is asking older students to teach residents how to use a Smartphone. Whether a resident is new to this technology, or they want to learn the more complex features, students are often the best teachers.
On the flip side, residents will also enjoy teaching children new skills. A few possibilities are knitting, simple cooking projects, or cartoon drawing.
Share music
We know that music touches the hearts of people of all ages, and it’s even better when shared. For some, this might mean singing songs together during virtual visits.
Older students with a talent in piano, guitar, harp, or another type of instrument may wish to offer virtual performances for nursing home residents.
Read A Book
I know you have residents who would enjoy reading stories to younger children. This is especially true of former teachers or librarians.
You can also invite children to read to the residents. Besides providing good practice for the kids, the residents will also enjoy the interaction.
Older students can volunteer to read to residents who can no longer read by themselves. This may result from visual losses or other disabilities.
Another possibility is starting a book club. Here, students and residents read the same classic book, then get together for a weekly virtual visit to discuss what they’ve read.
Share A Craft Or A Game
The possibilities here are endless. You can find lots of craft ideas on Pinterest that both kids and residents will enjoy. Plus, it’s easier to keep up a conversation when using a craft project as a focal point.
Games such as trivia, finish the phrase, or crossword puzzles help keep an older person’s mind sharp. They’re also a lot more fun when children and elders can do them together.
Enjoy Magic Tricks
Teach your residents to do several fun magic tricks to share with children through virtual visits. You’ll find lots of resources on YouTube, and some of your residents might have a few tricks of their own.
I find this activity is especially enjoyable for male residents. And we all know it’s more challenging to find activities of interest to men.
Now it’s your turn. What virtual activities do your residents enjoy? Please share in the comment section.
Someday the pandemic will end, and we’ll invite children back into nursing homes. I can hardly wait for that day! Here’s a list of 25 activities for kids and residents to enjoy together.
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