[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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Balance Training Games (1–10)
Balance UFO Game
Introducing an indoor activity for seniors that anyone can enjoy with a thrill: the Balance UFO Game.
First, make a hole in the center of a paper plate, thread a string through it, and hang it from above.
The key is that the paper plate, floating like a UFO, gently sways.
Participants take turns placing items like clothespins or plastic bottle caps on it one by one.
If you don’t pay attention to the center of gravity, it tilts and things fall off, so it helps train concentration and fine motor skills.
The game also adds a strategic element as players think about where to place items, and the group can have fun cheering each other on.
The materials are easy to find around the house, so preparation is simple.
By adjusting the hanging height and the weight of the items, people from beginners to advanced players can enjoy it.
Balance game
Using your fingertips while also using your head for balance—here’s a balance game to try.
All you need is a helmet, a tray, and beanbags.
You can substitute the helmet with something else.
Place the tray on top of the helmet, then put the beanbags on the tray.
The key is to keep an eye on the overall balance so it doesn’t tip to one side.
Decide whether to place each beanbag slowly or quickly and where exactly to put it.
This engages the upper limbs from fingertips to shoulders, and the brain’s decision-making processes, making it a promising brain-training activity to help prevent cognitive decline.
It’s simple, yet the setup changes every time, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.
Ping-pong ball catcher
Let me introduce a game called Pinball Catcher, which lets you do foot rehabilitation while having fun.
Prepare a table set at an angle, add walls on both sides, and place obstacles on the table using disposable containers or similar items.
Once the participants have nets attached to their feet, you’re ready to go.
Roll a ping-pong ball from the top of the table.
Predict the ball’s path as it bounces off obstacles, and catch it with the net attached to your foot.
Because you have to move your feet while watching where the ball will drop, it makes for great foot training.
Balance Training Games (11–20)
Don’t Drop the Green Ball Game
The bigger the thing you hold in your hands, the heavier it gets and the harder it is to control, right? This is a game where you move a large, hard-to-control cardboard box to guide a ball skillfully.
Inside the box are balls of various colors, and you try to drop the other balls through a hole in the center while making sure not to let the green ball fall.
It not only helps you become more aware of how much force you’re applying with your hands, but also trains your concentration to carefully read the movement of the balls.
Tower game
Here’s an idea for a thrilling tower game that will have everyone on the edge of their seats.
Stack paper cups to build a tower, and once it’s complete, place a ball on top.
You can challenge yourself to see how fast you can do it, or compete head-to-head with a friend.
In this kind of tower game, rushing often leads to the tower collapsing midway.
Try to proceed with a bit of tension—wondering, “Will I knock it down?”—as you build.
That way, when you finish quickly, you’ll feel an extra sense of accomplishment.
Milk Carton Stacking Game
Introducing a milk carton stacking game you can enjoy with just a little preparation.
All you need are milk cartons.
Cut the cartons into many ring-shaped slices a few centimeters wide.
Stack the square-ring pieces as high as you can without letting them fall.
You can start with a “Ready, go!” or simply stack at your own pace—both are fun.
Deciding where to hold each piece, how to place it, and adjusting while watching the balance engages upper-limb movement as well as thinking and judgment, making it great brain training.
It’s easy to prepare and enjoyable with any number of players, from a small group to a larger one, which is part of its appeal.
Daruma Stacking Game
Let me introduce the “Daruma Stacking Game,” a game that trains finger dexterity, quickness, and concentration.
Prepare paper cups with daruma drawings, and compete to see how many tiers you can stack within 40 seconds.
You can stack them however you like, but because speed and caution are both required, it demands not only concentration but also creativity.
Additionally, the quick hand movements used to grasp the cups are similar to the reflex of grabbing onto something when you’re about to fall, so it may help prevent falls.
It’s also recommended as a recreation activity for senior care facilities.