Activity 1

Kaitlyn Kuhn
LEI4724
Activity File 2
Activity Title: Special candy game.
Source: Activity Index at the Therapeutic Recreation Directory (Activity Index at the
Therapeutic Recreation Directory)
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/actindex.htm
Equipment: Ten pieces of small candy for each participant.
Description of Activity: The therapist has all the participants sit in a circle. Have each
person go around saying one thing about themselves like their hobbies, and favorite
things, and anything unique about themselves. As each person talks about themselves
the other participants in the group listen and if they do not have anything in common
with what the individual says then they will give them one piece of candy. For example,
I say I own a dog if you also own a dog then you do nothing with the candy but if you
do not own a dog you would give me a piece of candy.
Leadership considerations: This activity should have a group of no less than five and
no more than fifteen. The therapist should first have everyone sit in a circle. Then the
therapist will explain the activity and make sure everyone understands the instructions.
The therapist should also be there to help anyone who cannot think of something to say
about themselves.
Adaptations:
Hearing impaired participants: the therapist could turn this activity into a writing activity
instead of verbal. Each participant will write down something about themselves on a
piece of paper and then show it to the rest of the group. The therapist needs to be
around to help them write and spell.
Participants with depression: Make sure the participants feel comfortable at frst. They
can walk around and mingle with everyone and talk before the activity. If the participant
is having a hard time thinking of something to say the therapist needs to be encouraging
them as there should hopefully always be something to find in a persons life that is
good.

Activity 2
Kaitlyn Kuhn

LEI4724
Activity File 3

Activity Title: Rock Paper Scissor Congo Line

Source: OCD Treatment (OCD Treatment)
http://www.brainphysics.com/treatments.php
Equipment: A large enough area for everyone to walk around. There could also be
some background music.
Description of Activity: Each participant will start off with a partner in the group and
they will go head to head in a Rock, Paper, Scissor match. The competitor who lost the
match will then join onto the back of the winner and the winner will go searching for
another competitor to try and beat with the cheering support of their new partner behind
them. After that match the competitor who lost, once again joins the back of the winners
Congo line to support the leader of the line and this will continue until it comes down to
the final two competitor to determine the ULTIMATE Rock, Paper, Scissor competitor
Leadership considerations: This activity can be done with any sized group. The
recreational therapist will first start off by telling everyone how to play the activity and
the rules. The therapist will walk around to make sure everyone is playing fair. Also to
help anyone who needs help if they do not know where to go.
Adaptations:
Participants with ADD: This activity should be done with a smaller group sized. Make
sure this is no distractions around the room. After each match is done and there is a
winner they can all take a break before starting a new match.
Participants with social anxiety: This activity should be done in smaller groups. The
therapist should have all the participants mingle first before the activity to help make
everyone feel more comfortable. Everyone should introduce themselves to help with
their anxiety. If someone is really bad with anxiety maybe have them watch the first
match before playing.

Activity 3
Kaitlyn Kuhn
LEI4724
Activity File 4

Activity Title: Question ball

Source: Recreation Therapy Treatment Ideas and Protocols (Recreation Therapy Treatment Id
eas and Protocols) http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txtx.htm
Equipment: A big beach ball with questions written large on it.
Description of activity: The objective of this activity is to reminisce with the group using the qu
estion read as a topic, to use hand-eye coordination when throwing/passing the ball to other par
ticipants in the group. The participants will be asked to sit on the floor or in chairs in a circle. So
meone will first start off with the ball and toss it to any person in the group. When the other parti
cipant get the ball where ever their right thumb is touching they have to read that question to the
group and allow that participant to answer that question. Before the participant tosses the ball to
someone else, allow time for the rest of the group to answer or comment the question as well.
Idea for questions to write on Question Ball:
Cats or Dogs?
Lake or Ocean?
Have you ever been to Europe?
What is your middle name?
Italian food or Mexican food?
What is your favorite color?
Have you ever been on a plane?
What was your favorite bedtime story?
Favorite subject in grammar school?
Summer or winter?
Do you like to dance?
What is your favorite season?
Red Sox or Yankees?
Leadership consideration: This activity can be done with any sized group. Make sure there is
plenty of space in the room or outside for participants to sit in a circle. The therapist will write all
the questions on the ball large enough so everyone can read them. The therapist will then instru
ct everyone to sit down in a circle and explain how to play the activity. The therapist will also wal
k around to make sure every one gets a turn with the ball and to answer a question. The therapi
st will be there to help if anyone needs help reading or answering the question.

Adaptations:

Participants with no arms: For these participants the group can be sitting in a chair in a circle. T
he ball can then be kicked to the next person. When they stop the ball where ever their big toe i
s that is the question they answer. The therapist will have to be there so they can bend down an
d pick up the ball for them.
Participants with impaired vision: If there is just a few of participants with impaired vision in the g
roup the ball can just be handed to them or all the participants can be sitting on the floor and wh
o ever is throwing the ball can call the person with impaired visions name so they know the ball i
s coming and just roll it to them. The therapist or the person next to them can read the question
to them. The therapist can also help with assisting the participant in throwing the ball or rolling th
e ball, by saying how far the person is or where the person is that is going to be receiving the ba
ll. (to the left, right, or in front of you is what the therapist will say)

Activity 4
Kaitlyn Kuhn
LEI4724
Activity File 7
Activity Title: The Big Buck Hunt

Source: Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease (Activities for People with
Alzheimers disease)
http://assets.aarp.org/external_sites/caregiving/homeCare/engaging_activities.html

Equipment: Construction paper, markers, glue, and deer hunting magazine.

Description of activity: The objective of this activity is to increase fine motor skills,
physical activity, encourage socialization and reminiscing. First the group will look
through the deer hunting magazines and cut out all the pictures of the deer. They will
then glue the pictures each on a piece construction paper. The therapist will then hide
all the deer around the facility. Once they are all hidden the the participants will walk
around hunting (searching) for the deer. The one who hunted the most deer will win a
prize. Afterwords everyone will hang around and socialize. The therapist will encourage

the participants to talk about if they ever hunted or wanted to and their thoughts about it.
They can even be encouraged to wear flannel shirts on the day of the hunt.

Leadership consideration: This activity can be done with a group sized from five to
twenty. The therapist will explain how to do this activity. The therapist will help
participants with the cutting and gluing the deer and to also hide all the deer around the
facility. The therapist will hang around in the room easy to locate in case someone
needs help.

Adaptations:
Participants with depression: For these participants the therapist needs to keep an eye
on and watch them with the scissors. This activity will be good for them because they
will be involved in the process of making the deer cut outs. The therapist can make sure
to set up a few deer in a certain room and have the depressed participant go in that
room to check for deer. This will boost their confidence when they track down a deer.
They can also partner up with someone and search for deer together. This will help with
socialization and help make them not feel so alone doing this activity.
Participants with Alzheimers: This activity will have to be a partner activity. One
participant with one therapist or a staff member. While walking around the therapist that
is partnered up with this participant will point out areas of the facility to remind them. For
instance point to the bathroom and tell that is the bathroom. The therapist can even
point to a room and ask what can be done there. For example point to the kitchen and
ask what goes on in there? The participant will have to think and hopefully answer
cooking. Do this while walking around looking for the deer. The participant can even
hold a picture of a deer to help remember what they are looking for. This activity will
also be good because they are looking for one thing, a deer and not a bunch of things
on a list.

Activity 5
Kaitlyn Kuhn
LEI4724
Activity File 8

Activity Title: Jam Fest

Source: Earhart, G. M. (2009). Dance as therapy for individuals with Parkinson

disease. European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine, 45(2), 231.
Chair Exercise (Chair Exercise)
http://www.strongerseniors.com/chair-exercise/

Equipment: Dancing music

Description of activity: The objective of this activity is to work on socialization skills,

increase cognitive skills, and releasing tension. The activity starts with all the
participants standing around in a circle. Music will start to play and one by one, a person
will step into the middle of the circle. The middle person will do a movement or dance
move while the participants around the circle will copy that move. Once that participant
feels done in the middle they will then point to a new person and that one will step into
the middle while the other one goes back standing around the circle. The new
participant in the middle will then do a new dance move and everyone else will copy it.
Go all the way around the circle until everyone gets a turn in the middle.
Leadership consideration: This activity can be done with a group sized from ten to
fifteen participants. It has to be in a large enough room for everyone to be in a circle
with space between each other or done outside. The therapist will gather everyone in a
big circle arms length apart and go over how to do this activity. The therapist will start
the activity by going in the middle first and doing a dance move. All the participants will
copy that move then the therapist will pick a participant to go in the middle for them. The
therapist will be there in the big circle or walking around to help with any moves a
participant might need help with.

Adaptations:
Participants with Parkinson disease: Parkinson disease is a progressive,
neurodegenerative movement disorder that is often accompanied by impaired balance

and walking and reduced quality of life. Dancing will help these participants enhance
strength, flexibility, balance, and improve cardiovascular. For these participants some
may need to have assistive devices to help them walk or stand. As for duration of this
activity the therapist will have to keep an eye on them to make sure they are not over
exhaustion themselves. The therapist could also suggest dance moves that include
walking backwards, as this is a major struggle for participants with PD and should be
worked on. As well has turning around.
Elderly participants: This activity will be great for improving their strength,
cardiovascular, and having fun. Some adaptations for them may be having them all sit in
a chair and have a chair in the middle as well. the whole activity can be done with them
in the chairs, which is called chair dancing. The chairs will help support their back and
will be there if they cant stand for long. By getting up off their chair and walking to the
middle and sitting down will help with leg strength and balance. The therapist will have
to be around to help with any participants needing help walking to the middle. The
therapist should also encourage them to dance with their feet while sitting as well. This
activity should be watched carefully by the therapist because elder people get tired
more quickly.

Activity 6
Kaitlyn Kuhn
LEI4724
Activity File
Activity Title: Ante Up

Source: Working and Socializing Through Acute Mental Health Episodes (Psych
Central)
http://psychcentral.com/lib/working-and-socializing-through-acute-mental-healthepisodes/

Recreation & Quality of Life (BrightFocus Foundation)

http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/quality-of-life

Dementia and Alzheimer's Care (: Planning and Preparing for the Road Ahead)
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/dementia-and-alzheimerscare.htm

Equipment: A jar of pennies (25 per a person and about 100 for the jar), questions
written on index cards beforehand.

Description of activity: the objective of this activity is to increase socialization.

Participants will sit at a circle table. Each person will get 25 pennies placed in front of
them. The "pot" of pennies is placed in the middle of the table so everyone can reach.
Each participant will take a turn reading a card and following what it says on it. Each
card tells the reader to either give or take a penny. The participant with the most
pennies at the end will win the activity, but this is also just a fun socializing game.
Some sample cards would be:

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO HAWAII, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT
IF YOU ARE WEARING EYEGLASSES, GIVE A PENNY TO THE PERSON ON
YOUR RIGHT

IF YOU LIKE ICE CREAM, GIVE A PENNY TO EACH PERSON SITTING AT

THE TABLE

IF YOU KNOW HOW TO TYPE, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE PERSON ACROSS
FORM YOU AT THE TABLE

IF YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IS BLUE, GIVE A PENNY TO THE POT

IF YOU CAN SAY HELLO IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE, DO SO, THEN TAKE A

PENNY FROM THE POT

SHAKE HANDS WITH THE PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT, AND GIVE HIM A
PENNY

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN ON A BOAT, TAKE A PENNY FROM THE POT

WHISTLE DIXIE, THEN GIVE A PENNY TO A PERSON WEARING RED

ETC. ETC. ETC.

Leadership considerations: This activity can be done with any sized group. The more
participants the longer the activity will take. The therapist will sit everyone at the table
and go over the instructions on how to do this activity. They will then pass out the
pennies to each participant. The therapist will be there monitoring everyone in case
anyone needs help. The therapist can help read the cards if needed.

Adaptations:
Participants who are depressed: Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood,
and thoughts and that affects the way a person eats, sleeps, feels about himself or
herself, and thinks about things. These participants lack socialization and it is very
important for them to participate in activities that gets them socializing with others. This
activity is great for that. They wont have to be the center of attention since everyone
takes turns but they will get some socializing done. They will be talking to the group
answering questions and also talking to the people next to them if they get a card that
has them do that.
Participants with Alzheimers: It is very important to be patient with these participants.
When reading off the card it it should be read slowly as the person may take longer to
process what is being said. This activity is good for them because sometimes
participants with alzheimers have difficulty answering question but with this activity they
can just put a penny in the jar or take one. Preliminary evidence suggests that staying
mentally active may be associated with preservation of cognitive function.

Activity 7
Kaitlyn Kuhn
LEI4724

Activity File 11
Activity Title: Picture Bingo

Source: Activity Index at the Therapeutic Recreation Directory (Activity Index at the
Therapeutic Recreation Directory)
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/actindex.htm

Equipment: Camera, computer, printer, paper, bingo chips.

Description of activity:This activity may be a lot of work initially, but you'll have a very
personalized activity for your facility. Have a volunteer take pictures of all the residents.
Cut each picture into a 2 by 2 square and make multiple Xerox copies of each picture.
Paste the copies onto a large sized card... making many different cards. All the
participants will get seated into their chairs at a table and each get a card and some
playing bingo chips. At the game, call the persons name. If a player has the persons
picture on their card, the player covers it up. If a player doesn't know who the individual
is, invite the individual whose name was called to stand up or raise their hand.

Leadership consideration: This activity can be done with a group of 9-25 participants.
The therapist will sit all the participants down and explain how to play this activity. The
therapist should take the pictures and make the cards before they start the activity. The
therapist will be there picking out the names being called. The therapist will monitor
everyone and help them if needed.

Adaptations:
Participants with social anxiety: For these participants make sure the group is small. For
this activity they need to take it one small step at a time. The key is to start with what
they can handle and gradually work your way up building their confidence and coping
skills as you move up the anxiety ladder.(Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia)
For this activity they can do that by if their name is called they can start by standing.
The next time have them introduce themselves, and then the third time have them tell

the group something about themselves. These participants may become anxious
playing this game not knowing when their name is going to be called. The therapist can
teach them how to learn to control their breathing.
Participants with Alzeimers: For these participants it is a great activity for them to
practice the names with pictures with the other participants in their group. They man
know all them but be forgetting. The therapist needs to read the instructions slow and
and made simpler for them to understand. Speaking slowly because for these
participants it will take longer for them to understand and process what is said. Take
your time with this activity. Participants with Alzeimers will do activities at a slower pace.
Things will need to be repeated many times as well.

Adaptation sources: Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia (: Symptoms, SelfHelp, and Treatment)
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder-and-social-phobia.htm

Equipment, adaptations and improvements to the home (Tom Hubbard-Green)

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=157