The holiday season is just around the corner, and everyone enjoys being part of the holiday activities. Holidays can also be lots of exciting and fun activities for seniors even if a senior loved one has mobility or cognitive limitations—to avoid loneliness and isolation. Bringing the holiday spirit to your senior loved ones helps them feel loved and valued. After all, the holidays are about spending quality time with the people you care about.

Here are 25 fun holiday activities for seniors to enjoy with family and friends.

1. Decorate the home with Christmas decorations and figurines like Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity set w/ stable, three-wise men figurines, little drummer boy figurine, etc.
2. Create holiday wreaths and garlands to hang on a door or over a mantle.
3. Adorn and fill stockings with holiday gifts and surprises.
4. Design and create an advent calendar together.
5. Play board games like monopoly and domino. Playing board games is a cognitive activity to help boost mental health of older adults.
6. Encourage your seniors to tell stories about how they used to celebrate holidays so you can learn about their childhood.
7. Take pleasure in listening to your senior’s favorite music.
8. Have fun watching your senior loved one’s favorite movies and enjoy a healthy snack for seniors.
9. Dance with your senior loved ones to their favorite tunes.
10. Let the little grandkids read good books with their grandparents to create a joyful atmosphere.
11. Sing Christmas songs and carols together.
12. Enjoy a tea party with friends and family.
13. Bake holiday cookies or cook your family favorite holiday dishes.
14. Enjoy wrapping holiday gifts together.
15. Let your senior loved ones help with holiday cards (writing, addressing and sealing envelopes).
16. Get them involved by asking their ideas while you’re shopping online for holiday gifts.
17. Stroll around the shopping mall and see the splendor of holiday decorations.
18. Take a walk around the community or through a local park with the family and admire the beauty of nature.
19. Attend a sporting event and enjoy cheering for their favorite team.
20. Eat at a favorite restaurant with friends and family and enjoy a delicious meal together.
21. Watch a nice holiday movie or fun comedy in the theater with the whole family.
22. Go to a holiday musical play, concert or circus.
23. Go shopping together for home décor and holiday gifts.
24. Attend a holiday get-together to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
25. Find some exciting and fun holiday events for seniors in your area.

Encouraging your older adults to participate in the holiday fun activities will help them stay active and happy, but be careful not to overdo it and be watchful for any symptoms of fatigue and proactively suggest breaks to stay refreshed.