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Winter is the time for hot cocoa, warm fireplaces, and spending the holidays with friends and family.

There are many fun activities that come with the winter season, from holiday events to winter movie nights.

We’ve compiled a list of 25 winter activities for seniors to help you and your loved ones enjoy the colder months!

Knitting

Wearing warm winter gear is a necessity in the winter time. If your loved one is creative and likes to knit, this can be a fun activity that you can share together when it’s too cold to go outside.

When you’re done knitting your scarves, hats, sweaters, and other winter clothing items, you can wear them proudly.

Christmas Movies

Christmas movies are a great way for seniors to bond with their loved ones while enjoying a fun seasonal activity. Your loved one can share one of their favorite Christmas movies growing up or watch a new family favorite together.

To enhance the movie night, your family can add treats such as popcorn, cookies, and chips.

Go Shopping for Winter Attire

The winter season is perfect for large coats, cozy scarves, and warm fuzzy boots. If your loved one needs some new gear to prepare themselves for the snowy days ahead, take them out for a fun winter clothing shopping trip.

You can take your loved one to their favorite stores for winter clothes or make it a fun outing at the mall. As you shop for clothes, you can make suggestions and let them know what they look best in.

Decorating for the Holidays

Decorating the house for the holidays is one way that seniors can get involved in some of the more festive activities. Some ways seniors can help decorate for the holidays include hanging ornaments on trees, making homemade Christmas decorations, and setting up simple décor outside.

You can also take your loved one to the store and have them involved in choosing what goes up around the house. This can help them stay engaged with the activity, especially if they have physical limitations when it comes to decorating.

Make Homemade Cookies

One of the best activities to do when it’s snowing outside is to bake homemade cookies! If your senior loved one is enthusiastic about baking or is looking for something interactive, find a homemade cookie recipe that you can bake together.

To make the cookies match the winter season, use sprinkles, cookie cutters, and frosting colors that remind you of the holidays.

Have a Homemade Hot Chocolate Night

Hot chocolate is one of the best ways to help stay warm in the winter time. You and your senior loved one can have a homemade hot chocolate night where you make your own drinks.

Use ingredients such as milk, peppermint, marshmallows, caramel, whipped cream, chocolate bits, and hot fudge to make your creations unique.

Watch Winter Theater Shows

There are plenty of Christmas or winter themed shows that are happening at a local theater near you. Some of these performances include The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, both of which are holiday classics.

If your senior loved one enjoys the theater, find a performance near you and plan a night out. You can dress nice for the occasion and enjoy dinner together before the show.

Christmas Lights Tour

If your loved one enjoys looking at Christmas decorations, take them with you on a Christmas light tour! These can be available in your local area, and you can find one online that works within your family’s schedule.

If you aren’t able to book a Christmas light tour, you can drive your senior loved one around to different neighborhoods to look at the decorations together. This can be a fun way you can experience the winter season as you talk about your favorite winter memories.

Host a Football Party

Do you and your loved one share a favorite football team that you like to root for? Host a football watch party at your house to watch the exciting games that will happen this season!

You and your loved one can wear gear that supports your favorite team and buy snacks to help make the night memorable. You can invite family and friends to come help root for the team as well!

Read a Book Series

Another fun winter activity to enjoy on cold winter days is to read a book series. You and your loved one can choose a favorite author or genre and come together to read a book that you discuss as you read each chapter.

If your senior loved one has difficulty reading, you can listen to an audio book version of the book. This will allow you to both enjoy it together while enjoying a quiet winter evening.

Have a Bonfire

Another fun way to bring the whole family together is to have a bonfire at your house this winter. A bonfire is a fun way to help people stay warm while still enjoying the outdoors.

You can add snacks such as s’mores and hot chocolate to enjoy while listening to each other tell stories of past winters and holidays.

Game Night

Another unique idea for your senior loved one to connect to family and friends during the winter season is to have a game night. There are many board games and card games that your loved one probably knows, and they also may be interested in trying something new.

You can make the game night more exciting by making a competition out of it. Perhaps the winner receives a special prize, such as a free meal or a small gift.

Make Gingerbread Houses

If your loved one likes to get creative, making gingerbread houses is a fun way they can spend time using their artistic skills to make something fun. There are many different gingerbread house kits available, and you can add your own candies and ideas to make you and your loved one’s unique.

You can make the gingerbread house decorating a friendly competition if you want to make it an exciting event. You can also set a special challenge, such as everyone must use the same exact materials.

Do a Winter Puzzle

A puzzle is a great way for seniors to engage their mind while enjoying the company of their family and friends. There are puzzles of varying sizes and difficulties, so your loved one can choose one that fits how much time they want to put into it.

Choose a puzzle with a holiday theme or one that showcases winter scenery. When you’re done, you and your loved one can frame the puzzle as a reward for finishing it together!

Go out to a Restaurant

If your loved one enjoys dining out, going to a restaurant this winter season is one way you can spend time together. There are many restaurants that have offerings that you can only get in the winter time, from peppermint flavored desserts to marshmallow themed treats.

Another idea for you and your senior loved one is to find a new restaurant together. You can visit different places around town and find the one that will be your next go-to establishment.

Go Ice Fishing

If you live in a region where the temperature gets cold enough to freeze water, ice fishing is a fun activity you can participate in during the winter months. Ice fishing will allow you and your senior loved one to enjoy the outdoors while participating in an exciting sport.

You can check for places that allow you to ice fish. Make sure you review the rules and bring all the equipment you need to stay safe during the trip.

Get a Winter Themed Manicure

Do you and your loved one enjoy getting your nails done at a salon? One way you can spend time together this winter is to get a winter themed manicure!

You can ask the salon to use colors such as red, green, white, blue, and gold to match the holiday season. You can also see if they can add designs such as snowflakes, reindeer, Christmas trees, and other fun winter decorations.

Winter Crafts

Another exciting way to enjoy the winter season with your senior loved one is to make winter crafts together. You can decorate ornaments, make holiday wreaths, create garlands, and make your own winter themed centerpieces.

There are also many craft kits available at the store that can give you all of the tools that you need to get creative this season. You can choose one that matches you and your loved one’s interests and budget.

Listen to Holiday Music

Another great way to experience everything the winter season has to offer with your loved one is to listen to holiday music. Whether you choose to go see an orchestra or choir live or watch reruns of your favorite performances on television, listening to holiday music is one way you and your senior loved one can bond this season.

You can also have a quiet evening where you play CDs with your favorite holiday themed songs. You and your loved one can take turns sharing the music that you enjoy and talk about your favorite winter memories.

Start an At-Home Exercise Program

It’s important for seniors to stay active, especially during the winter time when they aren’t able to go outside as frequently. One way for you and your loved one to get moving during the winter is to begin a stay-at-home exercise program.

You can find a program that fits your loved one’s physical limitations as well as their needs. Activities such as yoga, tai chi, and resistance training are a few ways your senior loved one can get moving this winter.

Write Letters or Cards

Writing letters or cards is one way that you and your loved one can spread cheer during the winter time. Your letters can be to friends and family members letting them know that you’re thinking of them and that you appreciate all that they do.

To make the letters fun, you and your loved one can use winter themed stationary. You can also make the cards yourself to give them a unique touch.

Write Poetry

If your loved one enjoys poetry, writing poetry is one way that your family get creative this holiday season. Poetry is a great way for your loved one to express themselves, and it gives them something that they can share with others.

You and your loved one can center the poetry around winter using themes such as the weather or holidays. You can read your poetry out loud to each other or create a journal filled with the poems to read in the future.

Try a new recipe

If your loved one enjoys cooking or eating food, a new recipe can be a fun way you can bond together while staying warm inside. There are many soups, meat dishes, and other ideas that make a perfect dinner to enjoy on a cold winter night.

You can give your senior loved one simple tasks such as cutting vegetables if they aren’t as physically capable of cooking as they once were.

Make an Indoor Garden

Even though it’s cold outside, if your senior loved one enjoys gardening, they can make their own garden indoors! An indoor garden is a great way to keep you and your loved one active while sprucing up your home.

There are plenty of plants that can be grown inside including snake plants, spider plants, jade plants, jasmine, geraniums, and peace lilies. Go to the store and find some household plants that work for you and your loved one.

Trivia Night

If your loved one enjoys watching Jeopardy or other game shows, a trivia night is a fun way to bring the family together for a little friendly competition. You can invite family and friends to come compete on teams for a trivia night.

You can center the trivia around the holidays and other fun themes for the winter time. There can be a prize for the winners, such as the losers have to make dinner or the winners get to choose the next movie for family movie night!

Saber Healthcare Encourages Winter Time Fun

Many of the staff and residents in our communities are excited to enjoy the colder weather. Our Life Enrichment departments always work to provide fun, seasonal activities that our residents can participate in throughout the year. In the past, residents have enjoyed making ornaments and holiday themed activities such as caroling.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.