Whiteboard Word Association Game

Shared By Katya United Kingdom

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I do a word game on the whiteboard that the residents find challenging but fun.

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This whiteboard word association activity is challenging and fun! It promotes creativity, reminiscing, and connection.

Display a word vertically on the whiteboard. In this example, we have used the word "January".
Across the top, write down 4 categories that you think would resonate with your residents.

Countries Food Animals Women's Names

J Japan Jam Jaguar Julia
A
N
U
A
R
Y

Encourage residents to think of words or phrases related to each category that start with the letters in the chosen word.

As residents share their answers, facilitate conversation by asking follow-up questions. Encourage them to share stories or memories associated with their responses.

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Comments Post a Comment

Stephanie 23rd Aug 2023 Assistant Director Of Program Services

This is an awesome site for my seniors, I've been able to entertain them during mental and physical activities. Although my subscription has expired, I am able to still get some exciting activities. The white board games are real challenging to them, but they love during making words from alphabets and from other words. I will be renewing my subscription soon. Thanks!!!

Roxanne 4th Apr 2023 Life Enrichment Coordinator

I just got a whiteboard FINALLY so far we do Hangman, Pictionary...now all these ideas I LOVE these ideas

Talita 10th Apr 2023

Thanks so much for your feedback Roxanne!

Shirley 25th Jul 2018 Memory Care Coordinator

Thanks you for the white board letter game. We love letter games at our community.
Here is an easy letter game that can be played anywhere with a larg group, small group or one person. It can be played while traveling on the community van, sitting on the porch or waiting at the doctors office. The game is "Name that Letter". I choose a letter from the alphabet and ask for names. We have a lot of fun with Q, X and Z. Some days we are able to get through the alphabet and some days we are not. Some time we get sidetracked because a word sparks a story that needs to be told.
Thanks

Katya 14th Jul 2018 Activities Coordinater

I am pleased that the replies are positive about the game. You are absolutely correct about how the game should be played Solange. I hope that it goes down well with your residents. I also do it as a quiz as some people cannot read the whiteboard because of poor eyesight. I just follow the same principle but I just go through the alphabet instead and for example ask each person to name 2 animals beginning with the letter a and then just carry on until z. I do the same with clothes, food, places of interest, names, famous people, musical instruments etc.

Ann 9th Aug 2021 HCA

Some great ideas here and also inclusive... I will definitely be trying these... Thank you so much x

Solange 13th Jul 2018 Diversional Therapist

Hi, Kaye, I assume that you write the month of July, for instance, on the board in a vertical manner. Then you ask participants: Can you think of countries starting with the letter ‘J”? (Japan, Jordan, Jamaica) then you ask: How about food? Can you think of food starting with the letter ‘U’? Udon, U-No bar (chocolate). And so on with animals starting with the letter ‘L’ and women's names starting with the letter “Y”. It is a good brain game.

Kaye 12th Jul 2018 Activities Assistant

Hello,

I don't understand how to play the latest Whiteboard Game.

Have you omitted some steps?

Kind regards,

Kaye

Kym 12th Jul 2018 Activities Officer

I do a similar game called "Fives" Pick a five letter word and write down the side and then have 5 categories across the top. We then have to find 5 items under each category.. Gets the brain cells working!

Christine 11th Jul 2018 Support Worker

Thank you, what a great idea. To encourage participation we could also use the name of a group participant down the whiteboard as set out above and use the categories as listed above or choose different categories. Thank you for sharing

Laurie 10th Jul 2018 Activities Assistant

I play a similar game. It's actually a game my children grew up loving called Scattergories. We roll a die that has letters of the alphabet on it and then there are lists of items that must all start with the letter rolled. My residents love it. For example. Letter D is rolled. Items that must start with the letter. Boys name, something in a refrigerator, place to go on a date, fruit, university etc. Each person has to come up with a different answer and you can't use the same answer twice.

Cindi 8th Jul 2018 Recreation Assistant

Great game, everyone loves a mind stretcher and this one gets them thinking, remembering and laughing - Thanks!

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Golden Carers has been a God send to me. The person before me left me winging it. So, I found Golden Carers in an internet search. I use the calendar, lots of the activity ideas, but the most appreciated is the different ideas from other members. Sometimes knowing what works in other facilities is so helpful.... I'm coming to the end of my first year, and can't wait to renew for another year.

Roxanne Serritos
Life Enrichment Coordinator
United States

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