[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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- 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 and Rolling Activities (11–20)
Marble Chiki-Chiki Race
This is a game where you roll a cup containing a marble toward the far side of the table, aiming to stop it as close to the edge as possible.
Encourage players to focus on precise force control—how hard they roll determines how far it goes.
The difference in size between the cup’s opening and the marble, and the unexpected movements caused by their collisions, also seem to make control more difficult.
Like curling, it helps to practice the flicking/knocking motion repeatedly so players can get a feel for it through multiple attempts.
Throwing and Rolling Activities You Can Do While Seated (21–30)
Ping-pong
Here’s a simple game you can try that only requires two items.
It’s playable on a table using paper cups and ping-pong balls.
Bounce the ping-pong ball into the paper cups, or toss it in without a bounce.
Each cup has a score written on it beforehand, so you can compete by points.
Try several rounds and add up your scores—it can also serve as brain training.
Because ping-pong balls are light, they require little strength and are less likely to cause injury if dropped, making this a great option for older adults.
Throwing the ping-pong balls also works as an arm exercise, so you can enjoy some training while having fun.
Ping-Pong Ball Cup-In Game
Here’s an easy, fun table game.
Place paper or plastic cups on a table.
Then have the older adults who are seated try to get a ping-pong ball into the cups.
They can throw the ball or bounce it—either is fine.
It’s also nice to think about different ways to get the ball into the cup and approach it like a game.
Grasping the ping-pong ball may help train finger strength as well.
It’s a simple game, but it’s delightful when the ball lands in a cup, and it can be refreshing, too.
Please give it a try!
Games to Enjoy with Handmade Tools (1–10)
Kick CurlingNEW!
Let’s enjoy an indoor sport called “Kick Curling,” which uses the rolling properties of plastic bottles.
The game is played between teams, so please color-code the bottles in advance, such as by wrapping them with colored tape.
Once the game starts, use your foot to roll the plastic bottles toward the target house.
The house has points written on it, so aim for the highest-scoring areas.
Bottles with a duck inside are worth double points.
Pull-and-Find Treasure Hunt Game
It’s a treasure-hunt game where you pull a basket or box filled with various items using a string or similar, and search for the target item inside.
Because it simultaneously trains arm strength for pulling the string, listening skills to accurately catch the prompt, and visual acuity to find the presented item, it’s recommended as a recreational activity for older adults.
If you play it in a competitive format, it also requires quick reflexes, making it a fun way to improve abilities—another big advantage.
Give it a try!
reversible disk
Reversible Discs is a recreational game that combines elements of Othello and curling.
The rules are simple: players throw discs—like a frisbee—painted in their team’s color, and score points if the disc lands on the target.
However, the underside of each disc is painted in the opposing team’s color, so if it flips over, the points go to the other team.
It’s perfect for playing with a large group.
By the way, you can make the discs by cutting circles out of cardboard.
Let’s blow them away with a Kamehameha.
Many people have probably admired the idea of attacking with shockwaves from your hands after seeing it in stories.
This game is inspired by that scene: you launch a handheld device forcefully from your hand to try to knock down plastic bottles.
You’ll use a milk carton that’s been cut with small slits and a rubber band.
By setting the rubber band and folding the opposite side, you create a mechanism that snaps back.
Stack several of these, grip them in your hand, and when given the signal, open your hand slightly—the device will shoot forward with force.
Besides focusing on the satisfying feel, it’s also recommended to think about the best angle to more effectively knock down the bottles.