For Seniors: Fun for Everyone! Christmas Party Activity Ideas
One of the major events in December is, of course, the Christmas party.
Many nursing homes and day service centers also hold Christmas parties, don’t they?
We want older adults to smile and enjoy themselves at these gatherings.
So this time, we’re sharing ideas for performances and activities that seniors can enjoy.
We’ve gathered a variety of options, from games seniors can participate in to staff-led shows.
December is a busy time, with the year-end and New Year holidays approaching.
Please use this article as a reference when preparing for your Christmas party.
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- [Christmas Party at the Nursing Home] Staff Take on the Challenge! Fun Performances Everyone Can Enjoy
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
- [For Staff at Elderly Care Facilities] Simple Performances to Liven Up a Year-End Party
- Entertainment ideas for year-end parties that seniors will enjoy
- For seniors: Simple and exciting! Ideas for staff performances
- Christmas Party Ideas! Fun Activities and Game Ideas
- [For Seniors] Lively! Entertainment Ideas for New Year’s Parties
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- Christmas party booster! A collection of game ideas that large groups can enjoy
- Performances to Liven Up New Year Parties for Elderly Care Facility Staff
- [Christmas] Popular Entertainment/Performance Ideas Ranking
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Liven Up Together! Christmas Party Performance Ideas (41–50)
Christmas treats
Let’s try making some easy, bite-sized treats! One is a banana decorated with marshmallows, strawberries, chocolate pens, and more, finished to look like Santa.
The other uses bell-shaped mini sponge cakes coated in melted white chocolate and decorated with chocolate pens and candies to look like snowmen.
There’s no need to mix ingredients or bake, and everyone can make their own, making this perfect for a snack activity.
Making a full Christmas cake can be a lot of work, but this is an easy, low-pressure alternative.
[For Seniors] Get Everyone Excited! Christmas Party Performance Ideas (51–60)
Christmas shan-shan
This is a dance set to the song “Christmas Shanshan,” which depicts the scene of Santa Claus coming at Christmas.
While bending and stretching your whole body to keep the rhythm, make sure to clearly express the lyrics through your movements.
If you focus on sharp movements and how you apply force, it will likely lead to smoother movement in daily life.
If standing exercises are difficult, perform them seated in a chair; even then, it’s important to keep the rhythm with steps or similar movements.
With rhythm-conscious movement, let’s also pay attention to the rhythm of walking.
Christmas party
When it comes to must-have winter events for both children and adults, Christmas surely comes to mind.
Christmas is a Christian festival that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
In Japan, it is said to have spread to the general public after confectionery companies turned it into a promotional event.
If you prepare items like Santa outfits, Christmas cakes, and presents, it will undoubtedly be an event that seniors can enjoy as well! Incorporating Christmas-themed games could make it even more exciting.
Easy Christmas Exercises
Let’s get moving with a dance set to the romantic Christmas classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” It’s a pop song that really highlights the sparkle of the season, so the most important thing is to feel the fun with your whole body.
The choreography is simple, mainly side-to-side steps, but if the song’s fast tempo makes it tricky, it’s a good idea to break the moves into more counts.
If you focus on matching the light, upbeat tempo, you’ll not only achieve smoother body movements but also improve your explosiveness.
Siren Toiv
This is an exercise set to “Silent Eve,” a signature song by Midori Karashima and a classic Christmas tune.
In keeping with the gentle melody, focus on your breathing while gradually making your movements larger.
By progressing from small motions to bigger ones, you’ll feel various parts of your body—starting with the arms—stretching.
Doing it seated in a chair is also a key point, encouraging you to aim for large movements within a comfortable, safe range.
Santa Is Coming to Town Exercise
This is an exercise routine set to the song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” which expresses the excitement of Santa coming to deliver presents.
While keeping a firm grasp of the rhythm, the movements portray the lyrics, so let’s proceed by singing along to help remember what comes next.
A key point is that, despite the song’s light feel, some of the choreography is slow, and it can easily be done while sitting in a chair.
Feel the world of the lyrics and use your movements to clearly express the adorable image of a child waiting for Santa.
Ginger cookies
When it comes to Christmas cookies, gingerbread men are famous, aren’t they? It’s said that the tradition originally took hold because people ate ginger to prevent illness.
Make the dough by mixing butter, granulated sugar, egg yolk, grated ginger, and flour, cut it out with cookie cutters, and bake it in a toaster for 15 minutes to finish.
It’s nice and easy that you can make them without using an oven.
Besides star and heart shapes, if you cut them into little people, you’ll have classic gingerbread man cookies perfect for decorating the tree.