Activity Ideas
Driver's License Fun at (or near) Home Fun in the City Going to the Grocery Store
Going to the Library Going to the Post Office RTD Orientation
Please share any activities, outings, events, or fun things that you have done with your refugee family which have worked out well!
Home Orientation:
Idea 1: Walk through the Welcome to Your New Home booklet with the family (see the “Housing” page in the wiki for it in several languages)
Idea 2: Go through their mail and help them to see what is important
Idea 3: When a problem arises with their home, show them how to contact their landlord and resolve the issue
Idea 4: Help them to do their laundry and clean the house (check for bedbugs and cockroaches!)
Practicing English:
Idea 1: Use the Oxford Picture Dictionary to teach words and concepts
Idea 2: In all casual conversation, be attentive to teaching opportunities
Idea 3: Go somewhere (shopping, a park, the zoo, around the block, etc.) and use it as an opportunity to teach about the surroundings and practice in real-life contexts
Cultural Orientation:
Idea 1: Help to register children in school
Idea 2: Show how to use the bus (see wiki for instructions)
Idea 3: Take them to the park, the zoo, a sports game, a festival, etc.
Idea 4: Go to the post office, library, and grocery store
Idea 5: Teach American idiosyncrasies/unwritten rules
Idea 6: Teach about gender equality and domestic violence
Idea 7: Take them to the closest hospital or clinic and talk about appropriate times to go there
Idea 8: Expose them to an activity or hobby that you really enjoy
Idea 9: Help to get driver’s license
Financial Literacy:
Idea 1: Use the Money Matters Handbook to teach simple budgeting (keeping track of expenses, anticipating expenses, understanding income, etc.)
Idea 2: Teach the value of USA currency (in comparison with home currency, what a dollar can buy, how much work it takes to earn a dollar, etc)
Idea 3: Help to open a bank account, how to write checks, and use an ATM
Idea 4: Teach about needs vs. wants, loans, credit cards, etc.
Idea 5: Go shopping and show how to find the cheapest items (off-brands, per ounce price, etc.) and to avoid expensive extras like soda and candy
Job Readiness:
Idea 1: Help to make resumes
Idea 2: Show how to search for jobs and fill out applications
Website Navigating Tips:
- For things to do/teach in regards to housing and household orientation, see the Housing page.
- For more activities to learn English, see the ESL Resources page.
Activity Ideas for Refugee Women
Journey of Hope: Cultural Orientation for Refugee Women in the United States: http://www.refugees.org/resources/for-refugees--immigrants/cultural-orientation-resources/journey-of-hope-cultural.html
Applied Life Skills: PDF (36 pages, 224k)
Parenting: PDF (67 pages, 314k)
Child Care: PDF (44 pages, 252k)
Health and Wellness: PDF (115 pages, 610k)
Domestic Violence: PDF (24 pages, 246k)
Public Benefits and Community Service: PDF (22 pages, 192k)
Appendices: PDF (94 pages, 1.07M)
Glossary: PDF (14 pages, 56k)
Acronyms: PDF (2 pages, 23k)
References and Resources: PDF (78 pages, 2.9MB)
Bibliography: PDF (60 pages, 268k)
A helpful booklet: Raising Children in a New Country