Old Wives’ Tales are thought to originate from the fact older women would pass down their advice to the younger generation. Enjoy sharing these popular wives’ tales with your senior residents in aged care, have a laugh and see if anyone can guess if these are true or false.
A printable A4 version of the quiz can be found by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.
Quiz Benefits for Seniors
Engaging in quizzes can be a delightful activity for seniors in aged care, offering both mental stimulation and social connection. Here’s why:
- Sharpens the Mind: Quizzes act like a mental workout, challenging memory and recall. This helps keep cognitive skills sharp and may even delay age-related decline.
- Boosts Mood: Answering questions correctly triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical in the brain. This can elevate mood and promote a sense of accomplishment.
- Sparks Joy: Recalling trivia or learning new facts can be genuinely enjoyable. Quizzes provide a lighthearted and stimulating activity that brings a sense of fun and laughter.
Answer the Old Wives’ Tales Quiz Now!
1. Eating your bread crusts makes your hair go curly?
(A) False
2. When pregnant if you suffer with heartburn it is said your baby will have lots of hair when born?
(A) True, evidence collected from women who had severe heartburn while pregnant gave birth to babies with lots of hair
3. Fish included in your diet is known as brain food?
(A) True, fish has been clinically proven in a diet to improve memory
4. If you eat to many carrots your skin can turn orange?
(A) True, beta carotene in carrots can discolor your skin
5. Rubbing a slice of onion on an insect bite can reduce swelling and discomfort?
(A) True
6. An apple a day keeps the Doctor away?
(A) True, apples have large amounts of antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of some cancers
7. Chicken soup can help cure a cold?
(A) True, eating a bowl of chicken soup can reduce inflammation in the lungs and in turn improve cold symptoms
8. If your hold your wedding ring over your pregnant belly and it swings around in circles you are having a girl?
(A) False, this fact is not proven. If the wedding ring swings back and forth like a pendulum the sex of the baby was going to be a boy (not proven to be true either)
9. Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis?
(A) False
10. The full moon can cause strange behavior?
(A) True, most hospitals record a higher amount of accidents and emergencies on a full moon
Continuation:
11. You can’t go swimming after eating for 1 hour or you will sink to the bottom?
(A) False, no drownings have been recorded from swimming shortly after eating
12. If you can’t sleep counting sheep will help you fall asleep?
(A) True, using visual techniques to try to fall asleep has been proven to work
13. Drinking a glass of warm milk before bed can help you fall asleep?
(A) True, it can release feelings of serenity that aids sleepiness
14. Sitting on cold cement causes hemorrhoids (piles)?
(A) False, a cold bottom does not cause piles
15. Red sky in the morn sailors be warned?
(A) True bad weather is coming
16. If you sit to close to the TV you will go blind or get square eyes?
(A) False
17. Kissing toads and frogs gives you warts?
(A) False
18. A floating egg in a pot is bad?
(A) True
19. If you look at someone cross eyed and the wind blows, you will stay like that?
(A) False
20. If you swallow chewing gum it will stay in your stomach for 7 years?
(A) False
