At Joy’s House, we understand that caregiving doesn’t often leave much room for free time. Between responsibilities and routines, finding moments of ease can feel out of reach. But connection doesn’t have to take long, and play doesn’t have to be complicated.

This month, we’re inviting caregivers to bring a little play into the day. Not through elaborate plans or picture-perfect activities, but through simple, meaningful moments that gently shift the energy and help us reconnect.

These are some of the two- to three-minute activities we use with our Guests, and they can be just as powerful at home with your loved one:

• Step outside together for a breath of fresh air

• Greet them by looking them in the eye and saying hello

• Offer a hand massage with a favorite scented lotion

• Blow bubbles, even if it feels a little silly

• Try on a couple of hats in front of a mirror

• Give a sincere compliment about how they look today

• Play a quick game of catch

• Dance together, even if it’s just for one song in the kitchen

• Ask for permission, then offer a bear hug or a short shoulder massage

• Ask about a favorite memory, like time spent at a grandparent’s farm

• Read a few limericks, jokes, or riddles

• Look at vivid colors in a book or magazine and talk about them

• Sing a nursery rhyme together

• Talk about fruits or vegetables that are in season

• Smell a fresh flower and describe the scent and color

• Ask for help with something small, like folding towels or sorting books

• Listen together to nature sounds like birds, waves, or a soft rain

• Sit quietly and say “I love you”

It’s not about doing more. It’s about being present in the time you have. These small acts of attention can bring lightness to the day, strengthen relationships, and remind both you and your loved one that joy is still within reach.