[For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
Have fun moving your body together while giving your brain a workout, too! If you’re looking for games that train balance, indoor recreation is highly recommended.
We’ll introduce ideas you can fully enjoy even while seated, such as the Chopstick Pick-Up Game, the Balance UFO Game, and Ping-Pong Ball Transfer.
In particular, the actions of carefully pulling out chopsticks and placing items on a disc naturally build concentration and a sense of balance.
These ideas are perfect for seniors to enjoy together, so why not give them a try?
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- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
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- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
Seated Throwing/Rolling Activities (1–10)
Strikeout
Strikeout is a game where you throw a ball at targets labeled with numbers.
In addition to being expected to help with arm exercise, strikeout is also said to strengthen the core.
By training your core, your body’s balance becomes more stable, which can help prevent falls.
It’s a game where you knock down numbered targets, so you can have fun while getting a workout.
Since it’s a lively game that many people can enjoy together, it would be great to include it in an April cherry-blossom viewing recreation.
How about making the targets not with numbers, but with illustrations or photos related to cherry-blossom viewing?
Pinball game
Haven’t you played a pinball game at least once when you were a child? It’s the game where you launch a ball, it rolls across the playfield, and you see where it lands.
This is a recreation of that using a table, toilet paper rolls, and a ping-pong ball.
Set up a small table at a slight angle so it’s slanted.
Place toilet paper rolls on top in a V-shape.
Attach a launcher made from toilet paper rolls under the table, and place paper cups where the ping-pong ball will drop.
Write different point values inside each cup.
Recommended for recreation! Hōrun Bingo
Let me introduce “Hōrun Bingo,” a bingo game with a sporty, physical-activity twist.
Draw lines on the floor to create a grid where each row has five squares.
You can make the lines with sturdy rope or masking tape, so it’s a game you can enjoy anywhere.
Throw a ball into the squares, and if you line up three or more, you score points; lining up four or five earns higher points.
Decide on the number of rounds and compete by total score.
In the video it’s played standing, but you can change the throwing position and play while seated, making it safe and accessible for older adults as well.
It’s also a bingo game that makes it easy to add your own original rules.
Pita-to Ball
Here’s a game using a ball that you can play on a table.
Apply strips of tape from one end of the table, placing the point values on top and keeping the sticky side facing up.
From the opposite end of the table, have older adults roll a rubber ball.
If the ball reaches near a point value, it will stop thanks to the adhesive tape.
Making the higher scores farther from the rolling side makes the game more exciting.
Grasping and rolling the rubber ball also helps train the fingers and hands.
It’s a fun way to strengthen the hands and fingers.
Seated Throwing and Rolling Activities (11–20)
Grand Passer
“Grand Passer” is a recreation activity that tests teamwork.
First, prepare a ball and a base.
You make the base by attaching a roll core from cellophane tape onto a flat box.
Once you place the ball on the base, you’re ready.
When the game starts, participants remain seated in their chairs and pass the base to the next person using their feet.
If the group finishes without dropping the ball, they clear the challenge.
It’s also good exercise for the legs and hips.
And if you turn it into a race against another team, it’s sure to get exciting.
Goldfish Game
At festival stalls, there’s usually a goldfish scooping game, right? Besides scooping, here’s a fun game that uses goldfish as the theme.
Two people hold the ends of a face towel, and place a goldfish plushie or a crafted goldfish on the towel.
While shaking the towel, they toss the goldfish into a basket that’s been set up in advance.
Assign points based on the size of the basket and the distance to the basket.
This innovative goldfish game should be enjoyable for older adults as well.
It also seems like it would be exciting to play as teams.
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the ball-toss game often seen at school sports festivals.
Some older adults may have taken part in sports days and played tamaire in the past.
Here’s a perfect tamaire activity for a warm April day to get the body moving.
Because it’s a familiar game, it can help older adults refresh their mood and relieve stress.
Have participants sit in chairs and place a basket in the center.
Prepare red, white, and other colored balls, and have the participants throw them into the basket.
The person who gets the most balls in the basket wins.
Throwing with the arms and shoulders also provides upper-body exercise.