[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?
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- [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
- [For Seniors] Recommended Rhythm Play and Exercises
- [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
Games to Enjoy with Handmade Tools (1–10)
Simple Darts
Simple Darts is a fun game idea you can make using a small whiteboard and magnets.
Draw a large circle on the whiteboard with a smaller circle in the center.
Divide the large circle into eight sections and assign points to each one.
The center circle should be the highest score: 100 points.
Wrap the magnets in any fabric you like.
The rules are simple: throw the magnets at the whiteboard and compete based on the score where they stick.
It’s sure to be exciting as either an individual or team game.
You can easily prepare it since whiteboards and magnets are available at 100-yen shops.
Plastic Bottle Bowling
Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, bowling was hugely popular in Japan.
It’s said there were more than 3,500 bowling alleys nationwide, and bowling TV programs were very well received.
Let’s enjoy a bowling game that’s sure to spark nostalgic conversation.
Line up several plastic bottles on a table and have older adults roll a ball at them.
Since it’s a seated bowling activity, it’s suitable for people who have difficulty standing or who use wheelchairs.
With calls like “So close!” and “Strike!” the room is sure to take on a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Rolling Table Tennis
When you think of table tennis, many people might imagine a high-intensity sport.
The “Korokoro Table Tennis” we’re introducing here is an easy tabletop version you can play using items like empty boxes.
You roll a ping-pong ball across a table, and the “rackets” are empty milk cartons.
Think of it like the air hockey games you find in arcades: you rally by returning the ball back and forth.
If you fail to return it and let it fall, it’s out and your opponent scores a point.
You can place tissue boxes or other empty boxes on the sides as guards, but if you knock those off, your opponent also scores.
Games to Enjoy with Handmade Tools (11–20)
Casual Ball Curling
Curling is a well-known sport in the Olympics, so many of you may already be familiar with it.
It’s a team game where both sides compete to see whose ball can get closer to the center ball.
Preparing this recreation is simple: just get several balls and place some marker tape.
With that alone, you can create a fun activity that helps participants interact more with each other.
It can be enjoyed while seated, which is another great point, as it allows older adults to take part according to their physical and mental condition.
Sukiyaki Rock-Paper-Scissors
Sukiyaki is a classic feast dish.
Everyone has their favorite ingredients, right? Sukiyaki Janken is a game where you collect those sukiyaki ingredients.
First, everyone discusses and decides on the ingredients for sukiyaki and makes cards.
You can’t skip essentials like meat, eggs, and green onions.
Once the cards are ready, put them randomly into a bag.
At the call of “Sukiyaki Janken, janken-pon!” everyone plays rock-paper-scissors; the winner draws a card from the bag and starts collecting ingredients.
If you draw a duplicate, it doesn’t count.
The team that completes all ingredient types first wins.
It’s also fun as a team-based game!
Evil Spirit Banishment Game
We’d like to introduce a game for driving away evil spirits by fanning them off with a paper fan.
First, attach a photo of a person to a plastic bottle, pour in a little water, and stand it on a table.
Draw a picture of an evil spirit on a plastic bag with a felt-tip pen, then slip the bag over the bottle with the staff member’s photo on it.
Hand a paper fan to each participant, and at the signal to start, have them fan to drive away the evil spirit.
Using real photos of people will likely spark laughter with comments like “They’re possessed!” and “They’re saved!” Because participants need to fan vigorously, it can also serve as an exercise for the wrists and arms.
This activity is also recommended as a recreation for senior care facilities.
Capsule Korokoro
You’ve probably seen capsule toy machines filled with toys and merchandise at arcades or supermarkets.
Let’s use those round capsules to play a lively game.
Attach a stick to an empty tissue box and use it to roll a capsule across a table.
The goal is to land the capsule in a target without letting it fall off the table.
To make the game even more fun, create gaps between the targets.
Placing the capsule without dropping it into the gaps is a great way for older adults to show their skill.
Cheering on the players and calling out to them can spark interaction with the people around them, too.