Fun Activities to Cheer Up Grandma During Quarantine
We’ve even included an incredible round-up of local activities and gift guide for Mother’s Day 2020!
Restrictions may be starting to ease in Alberta but the continuing COVID-19 lockdown may mean that you don’t get to celebrate Mother’s Day in the manner you normally would this year.
Mother’s Day is the time we let our favourite ladies know how much we love them. People travel far to be with their mothers on this special day each year and it’s a big reason for families to get together.
With social distancing rules in place and many sons and daughters unable to visit their mothers and grandmothers at home or in care homes, we need to get a little creative this year.
However, there was some good news announced recently in Alberta…
Relaxation of some rules with continuing care centres
You may have heard about the relaxation of some lockdown rules in Alberta at continuing care facilities.
Alberta will begin allowing residents who are not in isolation to have outdoor visits with designated essential visitors and one other person. Everyone will be required to keep social distancing rules and wear face masks.
This is an attempt by the authorities to stave off the potential negative effects on mental health that the lockdown and social distancing is having on residents.
If you are able to visit your mother in person in a seniors’ home, that’s great news. However, you will need to check first with the home.
In the meantime, the following are a few ideas for showing mom just what she means to you.
In the process, you may be able to help out a few local Calgary businesses (they need it!) and also get the kids involved in some creative activities while they’re stuck at home.
Get the kids to make cards and gifts
Most kids love to get creative.
Fun craft activities like making homemade cards for grandma, cardboard art or making a homemade bouquet of flowers from craft paper usually go down a storm – for their grandparents too.
Depending on the ages of your children, you might need to supervise the activities or just provide the raw materials and see what they come up with.
They might surprise you (in a good way!)
Source: alexandrajoywig
Get the kids to perform on the sidewalk
How about organizing a sidewalk performance?
This could be arranged for outside your own home and recorded for later viewing, outside grandmother’s home or even outside a seniors’ care home if restrictions allow it.
A few ideas include musical performances, singing, chalk art, or choreographed dance.
Or maybe you have a better idea?
Source: lilflowermama
Drop off a personalized gift basket with all their favourite things
Rather than buying a ready-made gift basket, why not get together with your children and gather all grandma’s favourite things together and create your own personalized gift basket?
You might want to gather together the best local produce and help local businesses, for instance. A few great ideas include:
- Local coffee beans
- Beer/wine from local breweries and wineries
- Wild Tea Kombucha created an online one-stop-shop for local food and beverages, delivered right to your door
- Favourite sweet items (cakes/cookies)
You can then drop the basket off at their home or at the seniors’ home where they stay.
While you may not be able to give your mother a hug this Mother’s Day, you can let her know she’s in your thoughts and put a smile on her face.
Send a bouquet that lasts forever
Fresh flowers are always lovely but they only last a short time.
How about sending your mother a bouquet that lasts forever?
The talented florists at Fall for Florals are offering their beautiful, creative bouquets of dried arrangements for curbside pick up and delivery. All orders are scheduled to go out twice weekly.
You can even include beautiful vases, baked goods and self-care products with your bouquet for a little variety, all locally made.
Of course, you can include a personalized message to let grandmas know they are missed and loved.
Sign up for a live cooking class together
Feeling adventurous? Does your mother or grandmother love cooking?
Why not sign up for a live online cooking class together with a top chef?
Some of Calgary’s top chefs and bartenders have joined forces in Brewery and the Beast’s Homeschool Series.
For a very reasonable $10, you get access to recipes and an ingredient list in advance, a live cooking class, and a full video of the class for future reference.
Chef Roy Oh and Madeline MacDonald will take you through making and pairing a Korean meal. Sounds fun? Register today.
Help them celebrate… safely!
Does your mother or grandmother like fine ales?
If she’s a beer drinker, why not pick up craft ale from the local Calgary brewery and taproom, Annex Ales?
Doesn’t like beer? Annex Ales also makes craft soda – they’ve got something for everyone.
Best of all, they’ve even branched out into making alcohol-based hand sanitizer during the recent lockdown period.
So, you could send your mother or grandmother the “holy trinity”: beer, soda, and hand sanitizer – and help her celebrate safely with all you need at a one-stop-shop!
Get creative to show your mother what she means to you
It might be a little more challenging this year to show your mother what she means to you.
But it’s more important than ever that you do.
The Coronavirus lockdown has been especially harsh on many elderly people, who have been confined to their homes for many weeks without visitors. Most miss their children and their grandchildren a great deal.
It’s never about gifts but going the extra yard with a special activity, card or gift is sure to put a smile on her face.
That’s as important as anything in helping her get through this.