Virtual Christmas Party Ideas for Seniors at V!VA Barrhaven
Published on November 19, 2021
Christmas celebrations have looked a little different over the past two years. Everyone has been forced to make a few adjustments to keep our friends and family members safe. Even though lockdowns in Ontario have been lifted for a while, we’re not completely out of the woods yet.
For a lot of families, that means another year of celebrating the holidays with a virtual Christmas party instead of an in-person get-together. Seniors living in Barrhaven retirement homes can still participate in the holiday fun, though. Keep reading for some awesome ideas that’ll get you excited for your family’s Christmas party this year!
What Are the Benefits of Having a Virtual Christmas Party?
Attending a virtual Christmas party may not be the ideal way to celebrate the holidays with loved ones, but there are at least a few silver linings. For one thing, since no one is hosting the event at their home, there’s no pressure to cook a lavish meal. And, that also means there’s no need for preparation or a massive after-party cleanup.
Plus, you can still enjoy festivities with family and friends without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Virtual Christmas parties are a way to stay connected with friends and family all over the world without anyone having to fly or travel long distances.
Fun Virtual Christmas Party Ideas for Seniors
At V!VA Barrhaven, we’re all about making retirement living as much fun as possible. That’s why we’ve come up with the following list of fun-filled virtual Christmas party ideas that our Community Members can participate in with their families.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties
Ugly Christmas sweaters have become somewhat of a common tradition for a lot of families. They may be weird and extremely tacky, but that’s all part of the charm! Store-bought ugly Christmas sweaters are acceptable, but it’s a lot more fun to get creative by making your own. There’s no rhyme or reason and the tackier they are, the better. You won’t just be making ugly Christmas sweaters, you’ll be making precious family memories and there’s nothing more fun than that!
Virtual Chocolate Making Classes
There’s no homier feeling than the scent of something sweet being made in the kitchen. The whole house fills up with the sweet and nostalgic aroma of delicious chocolate chip cookies, fudge, peppermint, or gingerbread. Hot chocolate bombs have been all the rage over the past few years, especially around the holidays. Now you and your family can learn how to make your own and send them to your loved ones to bring them a little extra holiday cheer this Christmas!
Decorate Christmas Cookies
While we’re still on the subject of baking, there’s nothing more fun than decorating Christmas cookies and gingerbread houses around the holidays. Relive those nostalgic and fun childhood memories of sitting around your grandma’s or mother’s kitchen counter covered in multi-coloured edible glitter and confectioner’s sugar with your own kids and extended family. The best part is that this is a fun family activity that everyone can participate in, regardless of their baking abilities. Christmas cookie decorating kits are widely available and can be purchased either online or instore ahead of time.
You can even turn it into a fun game by voting and rewarding prizes for the best Christmas cookie creations!
Christmas Holiday Icebreakers
One of the drawbacks of hosting a virtual Christmas party or get-together is that you lose some of the magical feeling of being able to see and speak to people in person. Large gatherings typically don’t all happen in one room. People tend to naturally spread out and break out into small groups to have separate conversations and catch up with one another.
Virtual Christmas parties don’t allow for this because everyone is in the same virtual space. This tends to make things more awkward, but there are ways to break the ice so to speak. Here are some lighthearted icebreaker games to help get the conversation going.
- What’s your favourite Christmas movie?
- Are you planning on going anywhere fun this year?
- Virtual Scrabble
- What’s your favourite Christmas activity?
- Charades
- Pictionary
You can even come up with more personalized icebreaker conversation starters and games that are directly related to your family dynamic.
Participate in an Online Charity Drive
The family that gives together doesn’t always have to live together! What better way is there to instill the holiday spirit in your loved ones than to encourage them to give to the less fortunate? Hosting an online charity event is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones while also teaching the younger ones about the importance of giving back to their local communities. Getting involved in charitable initiatives helps spread the spirit of giving, especially during these hard times when many people rely on the generosity of their neighbours the most.
Ask your loved ones to donate to a charitable or non-profit organization that’s close to your heart. Make it into a fun game where participants are encouraged to donate whatever they can and the proceeds go to the winner’s charity of choice.
Watch a Classic Christmas Movie Together
Many families have an annual holiday tradition of watching certain Christmas movies together. Just because you can’t be in the same room together, that doesn’t mean you have to necessarily forgo the tradition this year. Modern technology has made it possible so that you can download or stream your favourite movies and watch them at your leisure. Here’s a list of some old and modern classic Christmas movies to choose from:
- Home Alone
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- White Christmas
- Christmas in Connecticut
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Holiday Inn
- Meet Me in St. Louis
- Jingle All the Way
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2
As a first-rate retirement residence in Barrhaven, V!VA Retirement Communities is committed to providing seniors in our care with everything they need to make this holiday season truly special. Our Community Members have access to a number of fun in-person and virtual activities to bring them some much-needed holiday cheer. Contact us today to learn more about our virtual holiday events.
