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Every activity here can start with everyday things, needs no account and comes with an easier version and a card to print. Choose as much or as little as you like below. “Any” is always fine.
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Showing all 38 activities.
- Plants and natureArrange flowers togetherChoose, trim and place flowers or leafy stems in a jar or vase together.5 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Trim all the stems to the same length before you start and offer two at a time to choose from.
- Making and craftsDecorate a keepsake boxCover a shoebox with paper or fabric, then choose a few small things to keep inside.10 min setup30–60 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Start with a box that is already covered or painted, and add only a ribbon and a few small items.
- Making and craftsDecorate a plant potA plain pot decorated with paint, paper or twine, ready for a plant or herb to live in.10 min setup20–45 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Paint a base coat in advance and offer one color for stripes or dots, or a ready-cut strip of paper to glue on.
- Painting and drawingDraw repeating patternsFill boxes on a page with simple repeating lines, loops and dots.3 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Draw one line for them to copy, then fill only the first row of boxes together.
- MusicDraw to musicListen to music together and let lines, shapes and colors follow the sound.5 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Use one chunky crayon and one slow piece of music. Simply moving the crayon back and forth is a full way to take part.
- Making and craftsFold a paper boatA classic folded paper boat made from a single sheet, which you can float together in a basin of water.5 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Fold the first few steps in advance and invite them to do the last pull that opens the boat out.
- Touch and textureFold towels togetherFold warm towels from the dryer together and stack them, with no wrong way to fold.no setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: The helper does the first fold, and the person smooths each towel flat and places it on the pile.
- Touch and textureGive a hand massageGently massage one hand with a little plain lotion, asking first and stopping whenever they wish.3 min setup5–15 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Hold the hand in both of yours and make a few slow strokes on the back of it, or simply hold it for a moment.
- Stories and talkLook through a photo albumTurn the pages of a family photo album together, pausing to talk about what is in each picture.5 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Choose four to six pictures beforehand, one to a page, with a large word written on a sticky note. The person picks which page to look at.
- Making and craftsMake a button pictureSort buttons by color or size and glue them onto card to make a simple picture.10 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Glue only three to five buttons, or glue them for them and let the person choose each spot.
- Making and craftsMake a color collageChoose one color, tear out magazine pieces in that color and glue them onto card.10 min setup20–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Offer a choice between two colors, and tear the first few pieces together.
- Painting and drawingMake a family tree of handsTrace family members' hands in pencil around a drawn trunk to make a shared tree.10 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Trace just two hands, for example a grandparent and a grandchild, side by side on a smaller sheet.
- Making and craftsMake a greeting cardA folded card with a picture on the front and a short message inside, made for someone you both know.5 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Glue the picture on before you start, so the only choice is what to say or who to send it to.
- Touch and textureMake a lavender sachetSpoon dried lavender onto a square of fabric and tie it into a small scented bundle.5 min setup10–25 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Fill the bundle beforehand and leave only the ribbon to tie, or offer a choice between two fabrics and two ribbons.
- Making and craftsMake a memory collageA relaxed creative activity using photos, magazine pictures and paper.10 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Cut the pictures out before you start and offer two at a time to choose from.
- Making and craftsMake a paper chain garlandA long garland of looped paper strips, made one link at a time and hung up to brighten a room.10 min setup10–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: The helper threads each strip through, and the participant presses the ends together to close the loop.
- MusicMake a personal songbookCollect favorite songs, a few lines of words and the stories behind them in one book.10 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Prepare pages ahead with the title and chorus already printed. Together you only listen, sing along and add a sticker or a word.
- Making and craftsMake a photo postcardGlue a copy of a favorite photo onto card, then write one line together.10 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Choose the photo and have the card already trimmed, and offer one or two suggested lines to pick from.
- Making and craftsMake a pine cone bird feederSpread fat on a pine cone, roll it in birdseed and hang it outside to watch the birds.10 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: The helper spreads the fat first. The only job is rolling the cone in seed, or sprinkling seed on with fingers.
- MusicMake a playlist togetherChoose a few favorite songs together on a phone, play each one and write the ones they like on a card.5 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Choose three or four songs in advance and offer them as simple yes or no choices. The helper handles the phone and writes the titles.
- Making and craftsMake a sealed shakerFill a small sealed bottle with dried rice, decorate it and shake along to a favorite song.10 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: The helper fills, seals and decorates the bottle beforehand. The only job is to shake it along to a song and say which tempo they like.
- Touch and textureMake a texture boardGlue different textures onto a sturdy board to make something interesting to touch and look at.15 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Cut all the pieces to the same size beforehand and offer two at a time. Choosing is the main job.
- Making and craftsMake a torn paper mosaicA picture built from small pieces of torn colored paper, with no scissors and no right way to place them.10 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Tear all the pieces in advance and offer one bowl of a single color at a time.
- Making and craftsPaint a garden stoneA smooth stone painted with simple colors or patterns, then placed outdoors where you both can see it.15 min setup20–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Paint the base coat ahead of time and offer cotton swabs for making dots of one bright color.
- Painting and drawingPaint a shared picturePaint one large picture together, with everyone adding a mark in turn.15 min setup30–60 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Give each person one color and a sponge, so they only need to dab the paper.
- Painting and drawingPaint with watercolorsLoose, colorful washes of watercolor paint on paper, where blending and running colors are the whole point.10 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Wet the paper and load the brush in advance, so the only task is touching the brush to the page.
- Plants and naturePlant seeds in a potFill a pot with soil, press in a few large seeds and water them together.10 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Fill the pot with soil and make the holes before you start, so the only step is dropping a seed into each hole.
- Plants and naturePress leaves and flowersGather flat leaves and flowers, then press them between paper in a heavy book together.5 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Collect and dry the pieces beforehand. At the table, the only choice is which leaf goes in the book next.
- Plants and naturePrint with leavesPaint the back of a leaf, press it onto paper and lift it to reveal the printed veins.10 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Paint the leaf ahead of time, so the person only needs to press it onto the paper and lift it.
- Making and craftsShape a pinch potShape a small bowl from air-dry clay by pressing it open with your thumbs.10 min setup20–45 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Flatten the ball into a disc first, then press the edges up with the thumbs.
- Painting and drawingSketch what is on the tableLook at one everyday object on the table, then draw its outline with any marks you like.5 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Draw only the outline, and offer to hold the object still while they draw.
- Touch and textureSort buttons by colorSort a bowl of large buttons into a muffin tin or small dishes by color or size, in any order.5 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: The helper pre-sorts two or three colors into dishes, and the person adds one button at a time to the right one.
- Stories and talkStart a family recipe bookTalk about favorite dishes and write them down together, one page at a time.5 min setup15–40 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Choose the dish together from two or three food pictures, and write only the name and one sentence about it.
- MusicTap a rhythm togetherTap along to a steady song on a table or small drum, taking turns to lead the beat.3 min setup10–25 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Let the helper tap the beat while the person listens, and join in with one finger or a single tap whenever they like.
- Plants and natureWatch birds from a windowSit by a window together, watch for birds, and describe their colors and how they move.2 min setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Use a ready-made chart with simple bird shapes to color in. The only jobs are choosing colors and pointing out the birds.
- Making and craftsWeave paper stripsWeave colored paper strips over and under a card base that the helper has already slit.15 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Weave with one color and wide strips, and work only the middle row together.
- Touch and textureWind a ball of yarnWind a skein or tangle of yarn into a neat ball together, taking turns holding and winding.no setup10–30 min activityseated-friendlylow costMake it easier: Start the ball beforehand around a cardboard tube. The only job is turning the tube slowly while the helper feeds the yarn.
- Stories and talkWrite a letter togetherWrite a short letter or postcard together, with the helper writing as the person says what to put.5 min setup15–30 min activityseated-friendlyfreeMake it easier: Offer one or two ready-made openings to choose from, such as Thinking of you or Hope you are well.
Nothing fits all of those choices yet. Try “Any” for one of them, or browse more activity ideas.