18 Holiday Activities for Seniors To Elevate the Season

Holidays are a chance for connection and family, but they’re not always plain sailing. They come with plenty of stresses and challenges. Finding the right holiday activities for seniors can make a huge difference here.

Holiday activities have many benefits.

For one thing, they keep people engaged. This is particularly important if the holidays are an emotional time for them or if they’re feeling lonely.

Activities are also a way for families to come together. They give you the chance to connect in a non-stressful environment. They’re particularly good with people you haven’t seen for a while, as connecting through an activity is often less stressful than relying on conversation.

In this list, we’re highlighting a variety of different holiday activities.

Some of them are perfect for seniors on their own, while others work well for the entire family. There are plenty of styles too, including some technology-focused activities (don’t worry, many seniors do enjoy using technology) and others that are more old-school.

You’re certain to find at least a few to add to your collection of ideas.

Holiday Activities for Seniors

1. Video Calling!

Many people turned to video calling for the first time during the pandemic. While connecting in-person is now much more realistic, video calling still has its place.

Thankfully, technology provides many ways to help you catch up with your family! Using video calling apps, including WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, and many others, you can easily connect with your family through video calls.

Your loved ones might be thousands of miles away, but there is no need to worry about missing them anymore! If you don’t think your family member can get with the high-tech demands of these applications, check out our brief guide on the do’s and don’ts of teaching tech to seniors.

2. Reading

Seniors who read regularly are doing more than just enjoying a good story. Studies have found many advantages of reading for seniors, from reduced stress to deferring the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Reading can improve the systemic intelligence and thinking power seniors need to take care of issues, a capacity known as fluid intelligence that decreases all through adulthood.

Senior citizens who stay occupied with intellectual tasks, are less likely to develop dementia and can keep their minds sharp. Reading is one activity that can help in this area – and it’s also enjoyable. After all, reading exercises your memory, as you need to keep track of the characters and the events as they unfold.

And, don’t forget, physical books aren’t your only option. You can also read eBooks on your phone, laptop, or a Kindle. There’s even a program called Kindle Unlimited, which basically lets you rent out eBooks, rather than needing to pay for each one individually.

For seniors who don’t know what to read, what about a book subscription box? Many allow you to choose the genre of book and come with extra treats. One of our favorites is the Introverts Retreat Box, which comes with a book, soy candle, scented soap, bath salt soap, and snack.

3. Solve a Mystery

Want something different? A few companies are now offering puzzle-focused subscription boxes. These aren’t your normal puzzles though.

Instead, you need to put your detective hat on and work to untangle clues. The puzzles can be completed individually or as a family, and come with clues in case you get truly stuck. They’re amazing as a family activity, especially as they’re quite out of the ordinary.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Finders Seekers. This is easily the most popular mystery box on Cratejoy, offering a travel-focused mystery to solve.
• Escape the Crate. This subscription has an escape room focus. Each mystery can be played solo or as a group of two to six. The box even comes with props and acts as a game board, making this a very interactive adventure.
• The Deadbolt Mystery Society Monthly Box. This company offers a murder mystery style box, which is suitable for one to four people.
• The Conundrum Box. Here, the subscription follows escape room and choose your own adventure styles. The box also includes recipes for drinks (in both adult and family friendly styles).

Some of the companies allow you to buy boxes individually or in bundles as well. This is perfect if you don’t want to order a subscription.

4. Learn a Skill

Learning is essential at every stage of life. Whether you just finished school or are past retirement, it is never too late to learn.

Retirement gives you all the time in the world, and you can spend it enjoyably by learning new skills. You could focus on anything; pottery, painting, calligraphy, sewing, stitching, embroidering, puzzle games, or even crafts!

I have personally taken on woodworking crafts.  

A new hobby doesn’t need to be expensive either. I’ve been upcycling wooden items from the thrift store as a way to keep costs low. Sandpaper suffices for now until I can upgrade to an orbital sander.

There are subscription boxes for crafters too, ones that teach you plenty of new skills along the way. The Adults & Crafts crate is by far the most popular, sending out instructions and materials every week.

You can learn a new language using books borrowed from the library. Or, if you don’t mind paying a small fee, you could sign up for any number of apps or educational websites. You can then join an online group to get your practice in.

If you’re hoping to travel abroad at some point, the goal is a great motivator to connect with someone locally who could tutor you. I once recruited a friend’s friend to tutor me in Arabic before my trip to the Middle East. It was a nice side gig for her, as she had a small toddler. Or if you know a second language, market those skills.

Many seniors dedicated their lives to earning a living and raising good children. This life of hard work might have cost you some hobbies. For every skill that you have ever dreamed of learning, now is a perfect time to learn it!

If you’re looking for more ideas, we have articles that walk you through how to get started, and even make money off these budding hobbies.

5. Board and Card Games

Board games, such as chess and checkers, can enhance senior citizens’ cognitive abilities, improving their memory and strengthening their brain function. Studies show that elders who often played card games, checkers, or table games had higher brain volumes than those who played fewer or no games.

These activities also have social benefits.

They help you to quality time with your family, decreasing loneliness, which is common among senior citizens. Playing games is also a perfect opportunity to pass all your tricks and tips in card games down to the younger generation.

Many online versions allow you to play virtually against other enthusiasts and newbies alike. You can also connect with your family through such platforms, giving you the chance to have fun from a distance.

6. Holiday Decorations!!

We finally became homeowners this year and couldn’t wait to finally put up a full-sized tree. What better way to show your holiday spirit than with a splatter of beaming lights, candles, and all the tacky decor you want? What is the spirit of the holiday season without a well-decorated Christmas tree?

Honestly, this is one of the most classically seasonal holiday activities for seniors.

Perhaps your family likes to go make a big statement. Get your loved one involved in choosing outdoor nativity sets that the neighbors won’t miss.

Purchase your Christmas tree from your nearest Lowe’s (and get your veteran and military discount) or you can even purchase a Christmas tree online! You can buy natural trees or artificial trees, available in various sizes.

Get your favorite Christmas tree and decorate it the way you want to! Ribbons, wreaths, ornaments, lights, use whatever you want to! You can even get your grandchildren to help you with DIY ornaments and get your son-in-law or friendly neighbor to set up the Christmas tree.

Enjoy the true feeling of the holiday season. If you’re celebrating Chanukah, the web is filled with DIY menorahs that are sure to impress.

7. Yoga

Yoga is one of the most beneficial indoor activities. It can quickly be done without much strain or stress on your body, which is essential for seniors. It has an extensive range of benefits, from combating cognitive decline and hypertension to assisting with coronary illness and osteoporosis.

Yoga can improve your muscle tone and strength, while offering enhanced flexibility to your body, thereby reducing your chances of injuries. Likewise, it enhances respiration, fitness, and energy, while helping you to maintain your ideal body weight. Yoga improves your blood circulation and dramatically decreases the chances of cardiovascular and other circulatory diseases. Need we say more?

If regular yoga sounds too difficult, you could try chair yoga instead.

8. Swapping Stories

Everyone has a story to tell! All you have to do is ask.

Some of the most amazing stories come from the seniors in our lives.

If you’re the senior reading this, this may be the time to finally reveal those family secrets. Or, perhaps it’s time to learn the stories that the rest of your family has to tell.

Swapping stories isn’t just entertaining. People often learn unexpected life lessons along the way and the experience helps family members to know each other better.

Sometimes, it’s just neat to hear what your predecessors were up to. I learned some years back that my maternal great grandfather was a prison guard for Pancho Villa and my grandfather started the first clinic for marginalized Mayan natives. I guess that’s where I get my passion for health!

Listening to elders’ stories is also essential for their caregivers and younger people. It enables them to better understand senior citizens, their fears, accomplishments, likes and dislikes, and beliefs. Knowing about their backgrounds and histories helps you take better care of their wellbeing. Likewise, sharing stories imparts empathy and can help to build closer connections.

Seniors can benefit too. Recollecting stories from your past can help you feel more satisfied with life, build stronger social connections, and improve your memory.

Narrating the stories contributes to improved emotional stimulation, deeper social interactions, and a stronger memory.

9. Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are played by people of all ages and they have many advantages for seniors. For example, some show that completing jigsaw puzzles can keep senior citizens’ brains healthy and can strengthen parts of the brain that tend to be degraded by neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

Plus, jigsaw puzzles don’t have any complicated rules to follow. They’re easy for people to learn (which isn’t true for games like chess). There are puzzles for all skill levels. You can even find digital puzzles or join a puzzle of the month club.

Additionally, they are often cheap, so you can get a few all at once and stow them away for some other time.

10. Movie Night (or afternoon!)

This is probably one of the best holiday activities for seniors! You can play a movie on your DVD player, or even rent or buy them online! There are plenty of streaming services to choose from these days, like Netflix and Prime Video.

If your children come to visit you, they might even help you set up a movie projector! The best thing about watching movies is that you can do it anytime, anywhere! You can watch them on your couch while you cuddle up in your blanket near the warm, cozy fireplace. Alternatively, you could watch movies while you are just lying in your bed. Relive the spirit of your youth with old classics, and cherish your favorite memories! 

If you live in a nice weather area, or it is just a bit chilly, why not get the fire pit going and use a projector to show a classic Christmas movie?

11. Charities

Many charity organizations in local communities set up charity events. As a senior, you can participate in such events. You can help them set up their camps, or even create handmade things to give in charity.

You can knit sweaters, make handmade ornaments, bags of goodies, your favorite homemade cookies, or even holiday greeting cards to light up someone’s world and make the holiday season more joyful for someone else!

There are many other tasks too. Get in touch with your local agencies and see what they’re looking for.

12. Sing Christmas Carols

What better way to enjoy the spirit of Christmas than to sing Christmas carols? Christmas music is very cheerful and makes the holidays more joyous by rekindling the spirit of Christmas.

Turn the radio to enjoy Christmas music, or you can even sing (maybe through technology platforms) with your partner, your neighbors, or your grandchildren, and show them how to really enjoy Christmas!

You could also turn to YouTube or services like Spotify, to stream the songs that you’re most interested in.

13. Share Holiday Traditions

It is always a good time to remember your past holidays. Let your family share their experiences, memories, and traditions from when they were growing up.

Help your grandparents relive the true spirit of Christmas by making this Christmas more enjoyable for them! 

We had an uncle who used to dress up as Santa Claus and clown around while he passed out the gifts to the children. Maybe it’s time to pass along that role to a younger member. We are thinking of having my daughter dress up as a little elf and distribute the gifts. 

We used to form an assembly line to make tamales. Maybe tamales aren’t on the menu, but you can assemble just about anything.

14. Cookie Decorating Competition

What is better than homemade cookies in the holiday season? Absolutely nothing. Bake your favorite cookies this holiday season, and have a small cookie decorating competition.

Purchase all the sprinkles and flavors you can and bring the family back together for friendly competitions. Let your grandparents be a judge or get them to play this delightful game.

This is another activity that you could easily do over long-distance, with the judges using a video chat service like Zoom to see their family members’ creations.

15. Create a Family Scrapbook

Many of us take photos regularly, but don’t print them very often at all. Why not change this pattern and start to print out some photos? Making a family scrapbook is a fantastic way to use these photos and can be a fantastic experience.

Plus, you end up with a book to keep and share with future generations.

Many seniors will love building their own scrapbooks. This gives them the chance to relive old memories while being creative. They can use favorite pictures of themselves and the family. You will get to experience the history of generations through their scrapbooks!

There are even subscriptions that send out scrapbooking kits – like this one from Cratejoy.

16. Trivia Night or Charades

Trivia games are probably one of the best activities for seniors during the holiday season. They not only stimulate and energize mental activity but also enhance socialization.

Seniors can play trivia games with their families too. Suppose playing games locally isn’t an option. In that case, you could easily set up a Zoom game, with people from multiple households playing all together. Doing so is a great opportunity for socializing!

How about a game of charades? Pick fun themes that resonate with your family – are they outdoorsy? World travelers? Teachers? Former military?

17. Shopping

Who does not like holiday shopping? It is undoubtedly one of the best aspects of the holiday season and is always a good holiday activity for seniors.

There is just so much to buy! Sweaters, cardigans, your favorite dresses, jackets, those warm cozy socks, lots of presents for your family, and so many other things!

Shopping sprees are probably one of the best things!

18. Pass Down Those Treasured Family Recipes

Cooking isn’t just a fun activity. It also provides you with a bonding time to connect with your family, even if all you’re doing is making sandwiches.

Cooking together helps develop a sense of pride in your loved ones. It can help to give seniors a sense of achievement and appreciation.

If you have a secret recipe or something that you can cook to perfection, this is the right time to pass your favorite recipes to your children and teach them how to cook with perfection. 

If you are social distancing, no problem. You can set up a Zoom or FaceTime call and walk them through the steps as you both make the dish together. Help them improvise. If you live close by, they can do a ‘drop by’ and leave the final product at your door for your official verdict.

There are many other cooking-related holiday activities for seniors. For example, the senior might go online to learn new recipes. Or, they could start to collect recipes to pass onto their kids and grandkids.

Final Thoughts

These activities can help your family to find joy and connection these holidays. But, remember that they’re not your only options. There are plenty of other exciting activities too, in every style imaginable.

If you’re not sure where to start, think about what your family members love doing (on their own or as part of a group). Then, start to think about creative approaches that tie into those passions.

We wish you all a joyous and happy holiday season!