Dementia patients may remember things from long ago more than recent events. Valentine hearts link the past to the present when used in engaging activities. The following Valentine heart crafts use materials that stimulate the senses and motor skills of the memory-impaired.
Heart Finger Puppets
Materials: Two 3”-4” red felt hearts per puppet, fabric glue, craft eyes, black permanent marker
Participants glue around the edges of one felt heart leaving a finger hole opening at the bottom point. Match the second heart to the first and press edges together firmly. While glue is drying, participants glue eyes onto the front of one heart and draw features with permanent marker.
Puppets are a wonderful way to initiate oral communication about Valentine’s Day and loved ones. The silent can finger dance the puppets.
Heart Stick Puppets
Materials: A variety of sizes of hearts cut from many different textures of paper from smooth to rough, popsicle sticks or tongue depressors, craft glue, pompoms, craft eyes, colored markers
Participants glue popsicle sticks to back of paper hearts and decorate the front with pompoms, craft eyes, and colored markers.
Heart stick puppets may be used as place markers at the dining table, gifts for family members in lieu of cards, and puppet shows.
Lacy Doily Valentine Photos
Materials: 6” white and red paper doily hearts, photographs of participant and pets or family members, craft glue
Participants make one photo Valentine for each photo by gluing a photo to the solid heart on the front of the doily. Doilies are placed on residents’ doors, mirror, community bulletin board, and shared with visiting family members.
Pipe Cleaner Hearts
Materials: Two red 2-bump chenille pipe cleaners per person
Participants bend one pipe cleaner into a heart shape twisting the two ends together at the point. Slide the second pipe cleaner through the center of the heart and twist the two ends together into a stem.
Pipe cleaner hearts can decorate dining tables, be given as gifts, and add another character to the Valentine puppet show.
Heart Leaf Rubbings
Materials: pressed heart-shaped leaves from such plants as philodendron and redbud, newsprint paper, peeled crayons
Place leaf atop table vein-side up. Position paper over leaf and rub firmly with the side of a crayon until the impression of leaf edge and veins appear. A collage of heart-shaped leaves can be achieved by repeating the process.
Leaf rubbings may be combined, laminated and used as placemats or table runners at the dining table.
Heart-shaped Bean Bags
Materials: model bean bag, heart-shaped fabric swatches sewn together representing a variety of textures including burlap, flannel, seersucker, broadcloth, nylon, and vinyl, dry beans
Activity sponsors sew bean bags closed except for two inch space for participants to insert dry beans. Participants fill the bean bags to capacity using their fingers. Leader sews seam closed.
Bags are used for coordination activities like paired catch and toss or toss to hit a target.
Clay Valentine
Materials: modeling clay heart-shaped cookie cutters, wax paper, rolling pins
Participants mold clay hearts free-handed or with baking equipment. In the latter participants roll clay with rolling pin and cut out hearts with cookie cutters.
Cut-out Valentine Cookies
Materials: store-bought sugar cookie dough, rolling pins, wax paper, heart-shaped cookie cutters, cinnamon hearts, sprinkler of red sugar, portable oven
Each participant receives a ball of cookie dough on wax paper. They roll dough to desired thickness and cut-out heart shapes with cookie cutters. Participants decorate heart shapes with cinnamon hearts or red sugar. Leaders transfer cookies to baking sheets and into portable ovens. Portable ovens allow participants to smell cookies baking and sample them after cooling.
Seed Hearts
Materials: 6” red, pink and white posterboard hearts, assorted red and white bean seeds like kidney, navy, and anasazi; craft glue, hole punch, yarn
Participants cover the surface of the posterboard heart with craft glue and arrange seeds across the entire heart. After the seed heart dries thoroughly, leaders punch a hole in the top of the heart threading with yarn for display.
Thumb Print Heart
Material: red ink pad or red lipstick tubes, practice paper, white tissue paper or envelope
Participants press thumbs on red ink pad or have lipstick applied to thumb. Each participant presses a thumb at left angle onto practice paper. Repress thumb onto inkpad or recoat with lipstick before pressing thumb at right angle next to first print. A heart shape emerges.
With practice participants can create thumb print heart design tissue paper or use the thumb print heart as a signature and seal for an envelop.
Dementia patients benefit from engaging in sensory and motor activities that build the perceptual, physical and cognitive skills of young children.
Arlene Marturano - Arlene Marturano, an educator, consultant, master gardener, and writer advocates gardens as a context and gardening as a tool for ...
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