[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] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
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Seated Throwing/Rolling Activities (1–10)
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.
Bottle knocking game
All you need is a plastic bottle and a uchiwa fan to enjoy this simple game: Plastic Bottle Knockdown.
First, thread a rubber band or string through the fan and secure it so you can quickly retrieve it after throwing.
It’s a seated game, making it easy to tailor to older adults’ physical and mental conditions.
Since the bottles are empty, they’re easy to knock over, so anyone can have fun.
Compete to see who can knock down the most bottles, and consider preparing a prize for the top scorer.
Let’s enjoy it together!
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.
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?
Seated Throwing and Rolling Activities (11–20)
disk hit
Let us introduce Disk Hit, a game you can enjoy using paper plates and paper cups.
Use empty milk or juice cartons as pins and throw paper plates like a flying disc.
Each person throws seven plates, and you compete by the number of pins you knock down.
It’s fun for individuals or groups, and it can be played either sitting or standing, so anyone can join.
Throwing paper plates engages everything from the shoulders to the fingertips, making it a functional exercise while you play.
It’s highly game-like and exciting, so it’s also recommended as a recreation activity for senior care facilities.
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.