Visiting loved ones who live in a retirement village can be a great way for the whole family to spend quality time together. Retirement villages often boast fantastic facilities and activities to keep everyone entertained. Follow these tips to make the most of family visits and create memories for all time.
Have a picnic
Many retirement villages boast spacious, well-maintained outdoor areas perfect for a relaxing family picnic. Take advantage of the barbecue facilities onsite and pack a classic picnic spread like steaks, salads, and bread rolls. Don’t forget the sauce! Set up on one of the picnic tables or lay out a rug on the lawn.
Make it fun for the kids by letting them get involved and select their favourite snacks and treats for the picnic basket. Don’t forget to include their preferred drinks too. Make sure to bring along outdoor toys to keep the kids entertained.
Pack a portable Bluetooth speaker so you can play music and create a festive picnic atmosphere. Lay everything out on the picnic rug or table under the shade of a tree for the perfect al fresco dining experience. It’s a great way to enjoy the fresh air and secure family bonding time.
Get competitive
A fun way to bring the whole family together is by organising a games afternoon full of friendly competition. Many retirement villages have facilities and equipment perfect for classic backyard games that all ages can enjoy.
Schedule a games tournament and set up stations for activities like bocce, croquet, giant Jenga, chess, or quoits. These games require strategy, skill, and concentration. For more active sporting fun, you could organise mini-golf, bowling, basketball, table tennis, or a sack race. If you want to get really creative, plan a personalised scavenger hunt or trivia competition focused on the family’s history and interests. Or test everyone’s vocal chords with a karaoke singing battle!
Award fun but inexpensive prizes like medals, trophies, or certificates to the winners in each competition. This could even be turned into an annual family Olympics event! The facilities and resources at retirement villages provide the perfect venue to host these games days.
Bake Up a Storm
Many retirement villages have communal kitchens that residents can book, so head there with your kids and bake up a delicious storm. If not, grandma or grandpa’s private kitchen will do just fine. Let the kids get hands-on and immersed in the baking process as you whip up their favourite sweet and savoury baked treats.
Give them simple tasks like mixing ingredients, rolling dough, icing, decorating, or slicing. Bake classic cookies like chocolate chips, gingerbread or cinnamon scrolls. Or try something more advanced like cupcakes, a cake, or scones. The kids can help measure ingredients, take turns mixing the batter or dough, and watch the transformation in the oven.
Not only is it an entertaining, multisensory activity for the kids, but they’ll love sampling the freshly baked results afterwards. Take photos of them wearing aprons and chef hats too. It’s a fun way to spark their interest in baking while making special memories they’ll treasure. And the residents at the village will appreciate the homemade goodies too!
See a Movie
Many retirement villages such as this Living Choice community have private cinemas your family can take advantage of. Organise a family movie night and let everyone don their PJs and slippers. Indulge in popcorn, choc-tops and other movie snacks. Be sure to select a film the whole family will enjoy; a comedy or animation is often a good bet.
Get Creative
Get crafty with the grandkids by organising some intergenerational art and craft activities suitable for all skill levels. Many retirement villages have arts studios stocked with supplies. Plan an art session and try activities like painting ceramics, making beaded jewellery, decorating frames, or even painting a family canvas mural.
Provide paint, brushes, glitter, beads, stencils and other fun materials. Encourage creativity and imagination as you all make masterpieces together. For a meaningful memento, create handprint art by tracing palms or footprints on cardboard and decorating. Add family photos too. The kids will love getting messy and crafting, while residents can share their artistic skills and knowledge.
Proudly display the finished pieces around the village before heading home. The grandkids will treasure these handmade craft keepsakes for years to come. It’s a creative way to make memories and reinforce connections through art.
Enjoy a High Tea
A classic high tea is a lovely, sophisticated activity for a multigenerational family visit. Many retirement villages have cafes perfect for this experience. Book a table and dress up for the occasion by donning fancy hats, boater ties, pearls, and gloves.
Arrive to a decadent display of dainty finger sandwiches, warm freshly baked scones, and delicate cakes and pastries. Let the kids select their own colourful teapot and choose between a range of quality teas, like English Breakfast, Earl Grey, chamomile, or even hot chocolate. Encourage good manners and polite conversation over this wholesome homestyle spread.
Make it educational by explaining the history and etiquette of high tea. With something for all ages to enjoy, a refined high tea date immerses residents and kids alike in this beloved tradition. It’s a memorable opportunity to connect over food in an elegant setting.
Go for a Walk
A relaxing stroll around the village grounds is a simple but engaging activity for all ages. Turn it into an interactive nature hunt by seeing who can spot the most birds, insects, flowers, trees, and interesting rocks.
Equip the kids with a nature identifier book and magnifying glass for inspecting discoveries up close. Have a friendly competition to see who can record the most species. Some things to look and listen for are colourful parrots, twittering sparrows, buzzing bees, fragrant roses, and textured bark on trees. Stop occasionally to feed ducks by the pond and admire the tranquil scenery. Take photos of the kids with interesting plants or creatures to chronicle your outing.
The fresh air and exercise will do everyone good, while the nature focus makes learning fun. When you return, compile a list on the whiteboard of all the wildlife spotted and let the kids announce the winning nature bingo explorer! A village nature stroll fosters curiosity, creates memories, and connects the generations.
Volunteer
Volunteering together is a rewarding multigenerational activity. Ask the village about options like gardening, reading to residents, or helping at a fete. Kids learn the value of contributing, and residents appreciate the extra support. Make it a regular family event or encourage kids to volunteer independently.
Retirement villages offer wonderful potential for family fun. Following these tips will help you plan visits that create happy memories, foster intergenerational bonding, and show kids another side of the ageing process. With all this in mind, retirement villages can be the perfect place for family fun.
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