jlpdimples

Hello Ashley & everyone! My name is Jenn, I'm from Ohio and I am currently taking the MEPAP1 class from the Activity Director Network as well. I am excited to start this new adventure in online classes but I am still very nervous with all the technical stuff. How is that part going for you? Do you feel you have the upper hand and how much experience do you have in the field?

It seems that you have had some very good imput when it comes to newer ideas. I had also tried a travel club or what we called destination imagination! But, depending on your resources like books and internet that might get alittle difficult. One idea that might help..but will cause you to do some research on your own is "name that tune" and "name that year". You are able to group them together and have dicussions...one thing that I thought was very rewarding was the conversation starter it became! For the group session just divide into teams. You can show a picture, magazine clip, movie, or anything from that year and they will have to come up with a date..of course if the first group is not able to get it within a certain time they can ask for another clue. There are multiple ways to play the game and of course keeps them guessing and then towards the end they continue talking about that time period or what they had experienced during that time. Hope this helps!!

I was once in the same situation and had to resort to something totally different. Have you ever seen those coupon books that you give to a mother, father, or friend on a birthday? I took that idea and applied it to prizes for bingo. I made a bunch of cut out coupons that had rewards, ideas, events or things they get to do. For example.. "Everyone has to tell me something nice today that walks by me", "I control the remote for a day", "I get to play my music down the hall", "I get to help in the kitchen", etc...really though you can base them on activites that you are doing in the week or allow special deserts. I would always like the special reader and singer in your room coupon. Hope this helps and gives you some ideas that can make it fun to incorporate different staff and activities!