Fourth of July Idea Round-Up!

Can you believe it's already JULY?!?! Where is the summer going? Today, rather than post a new activity, I thought I'd highlight some of our favorite Fourth of July activities from past years! Be sure to check them out and comment with your favorites as well!

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I remember a few years ago working on a particular holiday and the patients seemed to be frustrated and disappointed that they couldn't be home with their families and friends celebrating. I've discovered that one of the best ways to deal with these types of situations was to get my patients focused on something else, someone else. We've made lots of different kinds of cards, but these Military Postcards would be perfect for this holiday weekend! There are several different places you could send them once they are complete, check with your local community resources for places in your area!

One of my absolute favorite activities for any holiday is Jeopardy! My patients also love that Jeopardy usually involves candy as a prize. ;) So, here's a link to our Fourth of July Jeopardy game. This usually works with any age group, but may be better for higher functioning individuals. The questions can also be adapted based on the particular population you are working with.

If you're in the mood for an art therapy project, be sure to check out our Toothpick Fireworks activity! This is a relatively easy activity that can be done with just about any population. I'm even thinking of doing this art activity with my cute niece and nephews this weekend! You can stick to the red, white, and blue colors or make the fireworks colorful.

Finally, if you wanna just have a party, there's always Fourth of July Minute to Win It games! The post features games such as What a Racket, Wet Balloon, and Wrap Them Up! Alternatively, you could present patients with a few supplies and have them create their own games for the rest of the group to play.

What are some of YOUR favorite Fourth of July Activities? Be sure to share below!

Water in the Face

This is always a fun game for those hot summer days when the patients (and us!) want to be outside and not stuck inside all day. This idea was found in the book Team Building Activities for Every Group by Alana Jones (available on Amazon). It's perfect for hot summer days when you're looking for a way to stay cool but don't want to get too wet. ;)

Water in the Face!

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Objective:
Practice social and communication skills in a fun, interactive game

Group Size:
8 or more

Materials:
Paper cup
Jug of water (or some other water source)
Towels

Description:
Gather the group in a circle, either sitting or standing.  One person stands in the middle holding the paper cup of water. (You can decide how full to fill it!) The person in the middle chooses a category (i.e., type of car, color, kind of cereal, ice cream flavor, candy, etc.) and tells the rest of the group the category.

The person in the middle secretly selects an item in the particularly category chosen! If you're worried about the person changing his mind, s/he may whisper his selected item to the facilator. Once the item is selected, the game can begin!

One at a time, each person in the circle guesses what the person in the middle is thinking of. Each person can only guess one item per turn, and cannot repeat what has already been said. As soon as one player correctly guesses what the individual in the middle was thinking of, that person gets the water splashed in his face! The correct guesser also becomes the next person in the middle of the circle.

Processing:
There are numerous ways to process this activity. You could talk about the importance of clear communication. You could discuss the necessity of social skills. Or you could have participants think about what it was like to have water thrown in their face and how we react to different things that happen in our life. Be creative! Use what happens during the group to lead where the processing goes, as that will help you best meet the needs of your clients.

Adaptations: I have also seen this done with the lid of a water bottle instead of a paper cup. This made it a little more "inside friendly" for patients that were not able to go outside for group.

Pinterest Link Up Party!!

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One of my favorite resources for fun ideas is Pinterest!!

I'm sure we all have our favorite boards of activity ideas, whether it's for rec therapy, teaching, entertaining the kids, or behavioral management tips. This week, I want to hear from ALL of YOU! Comment below with a link to your favorite pinterest board so we can all be inspired by one another! Or, post one idea you found on pinterest that has been successful for you! :)

I can't wait to see your comments!