[For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities

chess

Chess Rules: A Beginner’s Guide

Chess is like a Western version of shogi.

The basics are very similar to shogi—it’s a game where you win by capturing the king.

That similarity is natural, since chess and shogi share the same ancestral game! Chess is played on a black-and-white checkered board using three-dimensional white and black pieces.

There are fewer pieces than in shogi, and captured pieces are not returned to play.

When setting up the board, make sure the square at your near left is a black square.

If on your next move you can capture the opponent’s king, you say “check,” and if the opponent has no way to escape and capture is unavoidable, you say “checkmate,” and the game ends.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

Brain training with gojūon (Japanese syllabary) cards

[Fun Recreation] Brain Training with Japanese Syllabary Cards! Directly from Kenichi Yamaguchi!

As we age, it seems we may sometimes forget words.

So let’s use a set of kana cards to stimulate the brain.

First, arrange the cards in order starting from the A-row together with the older adult.

The act of arranging itself is said to help activate the brain.

Use the cards to form words—the more letters a word has, the higher the points.

Additionally, once a card has been used to make a word, it cannot be used again.

Treat voiced and semi-voiced marks (dakuten and handakuten) as a single card and make them count for points as well.

If someone can’t think of a word, it’s helpful for those around to offer hints like, “Let’s think of a word that starts with A.”

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Proverb Matching Game

[Senior Recreation] Card Game: Proverb Matching!

There are many proverbs in Japan, right? For example, “Even a dog will run into a stick” and “Birds of a feather flock together.” Let me introduce a card game based on such proverbs.

Prepare several proverbs split into two cards each.

Place the split proverb cards on the table, and match two cards to complete each proverb.

Recalling proverbs helps stimulate the brain.

It also seems likely to deepen interaction as people call out to each other and cooperate.

In addition, proverbs are familiar to many older adults, so this game may be easy for them to engage with.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Dice Bingo

Simple yet fun! It seems dice bingo is popular!

This is a simple yet surprisingly hard dice game called “Dice Bingo.” Since small dice can be hard to handle, it’s recommended to use slightly larger ones.

For example, with three players each holding a die, decide on “roll an even number” and keep rolling until everyone gets an even number.

The more players you have, the harder it gets to match.

Once you can all match evens or odds, level up by trying to all roll the same number.

The satisfaction when you finally match is exceptional!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Easy! Prefecture Bingo Card with a Milk Carton

Recreation for seniors – simple crafts! Brain-training prefecture bingo using milk cartons

A simple bingo game played by arranging nine cards with the names of prefectures dealt from a deck.

Write the names of prefectures on cards made by cutting up milk cartons and create two identical sets.

Since the dealt cards are random, you repeat the process of checking once each time whether the called prefecture is on your hand, while hoping to complete a line.

Keeping your eyes on your cards, it might also be fun to recall images or memories of the prefectures as they’re called.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Old Maid

[Elderly Care Activity] Try Your Luck! Simple Card Game ♥️ Old Maid Flip 🃏

I’d like to introduce “Baba Mekuri,” a simple yet exciting game.

You shuffle and lay out the cards at random, then flip them over in turn; the player who flips a Joker first loses.

Using oversized playing cards instead of a standard deck can make the game run more smoothly.

You can also play with three or more players using the same rules, or even try a team format for extra fun.

By the way, you can buy oversized playing cards at 100-yen shops.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yamamoto

Report a problem

Milk Carton Craft: Rock-Paper-Scissors Bingo

Milk Carton Rock-Paper-Scissors O/X Bingo

In this game, whoever wins rock-paper-scissors places their own marker—made from a milk carton—on a grid, and the first to complete three lines wins.

Because placement depends on the outcome of rock-paper-scissors, you get a different kind of mind game than the usual take-turns format.

Not only is placement strategy important, but figuring out how to win at rock-paper-scissors also becomes a key factor.

If there’s a big skill gap in rock-paper-scissors, it’s a good idea to add handicaps, such as changing the number of lines needed to win.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem