1. Greet the person by name.
2. Make eye contact and smile.
3. Shake hands.
4. Ask someone to “show me” an object.
5. Tease: “Mr. Smith, I just saw you eat dessert first!”
6. Tell someone they are loved.
7. Give a sustained bear hug.
8. Give a compliment: “Wow! You look pretty spiffy!”
9. Ask an open-ended question: “How are you feeling today?”
10. Ask an opinion: “What do you think of my necktie? Does it match my shirt?”
11. Play a quick game of catch. (A surgical glove makes a great balloon for this.)
12. Notice an unusual bird or squirrel outside the window.
13. Evoke a memory from a person's life story: “Tell me more about your dog. Did he follow you to school?”
14. Give a hand massage.
15. Share a new hand lotion and talk about its pleasing scent.
16. Try on a new shade of lipstick.
17. Blow bubbles.
18. Slip a little treat to someone.
19. Share a magic trick.
20. Show off family photos of a new grandchild.
21. Blow up a balloon and bat it around. (You can blow up surgical gloves instead.)
22. Look at a flower arrangement and compare colors, textures and scents.
23. Ask for advice on a recipe.
24. Tell a funny story or joke. Clown around for a moment and make funny faces, throw your hands in the air and spin around once or twice.
25. Do a quick dance to some fun music that is playing in the background.
26. Sing a song or say a prayer together.
27. Notice vivid colors in an unusual dress or shirt.
28. Ask for help with a chore such as folding a towel, helping to make a bed, or polishing a piece of furniture.
29. Try on a hat or hats.
30. Step outside for some fresh air.