[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
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- [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
Simple DIY recreation using newspaper (1–10)
Treasure Hunt Game
It’s a game where you search for a ball hidden inside a cardboard box filled with crumpled newspaper, pushing the paper aside as you go.
By focusing on the sensation of touching the ball and grabbing it, you train not only your vision but also your hand coordination and concentration.
Since you need to thoroughly explore the entire box to find the ball, it’s also a good opportunity to move your arms actively.
If you increase the variety of “treasures,” players may pay more attention to what their hands are touching.
Ball Grabbing Game
Let’s play a game where you grab balls using newspaper.
All the tools used in the game are made from newspaper.
Make the balls by crumpling newspaper into a sphere, and make the grabbing sticks out of newspaper as well.
You can create everything you need for the game using everyday materials.
Place several balls inside a circle, grab them with the stick, and put them into a basket.
If you set a time limit, the game gets more exciting.
Forming teams and competing for the best time will make it even more fun.
Daruma-otoshi
Many of you may have played Daruma Otoshi when you were children.
This version is a simple Daruma Otoshi you can make using empty boxes and newspaper.
Stack empty tissue boxes to form the “daruma,” then use a ball of rolled-up newspaper to strike and knock out the boxes one by one from the bottom.
The game ends when the stack collapses, and you compete to see how many boxes you can remove.
You might hesitate when it looks like the boxes are about to fall, but momentum is key.
Take the plunge and give the box a sharp, clean strike!
Newspaper-pulling-with-feet game
Walking is something we do so routinely that it can become “automatic.” When that happens, we stop paying attention and the risk of falling increases.
This activity uses a game to help you learn how to move your feet and develop the sensation of gripping the floor with your toes.
Sit in a chair and place a long strip of connected newspaper at your feet.
At the start signal, use forward-and-back movements of your feet to pull the newspaper toward you.
As you play, explore what works best for you: drawing it in little by little with small motions, or pulling it in quickly with bigger movements.
After trying with each foot separately, challenge yourself to use only your toes.
Focusing on this more delicate control is also recommended.
Simple handmade recreations using newspaper (11–20)
Ghost Scooping Game
Here’s a game that treats plastic bags like little ghosts.
Have older adults sit in chairs and use a stick made from newspaper to scoop up plastic bags placed on the floor.
Then have them place the scooped bags into a bowl set on the chair.
This game helps strengthen the biceps on the front of the upper arm.
It’s perfect for people who find it difficult to bring food to their mouth with a spoon, too.
Since it uses familiar items, it’s easy to do in short breaks.
Because they’re “ghosts,” it could be fun to add eyes and a mouth to the plastic bags.
It’s also great as a Halloween-season activity.
Newspaper Pull-Out Game
Here’s a game you can enjoy using old newspapers.
All you need are newspapers, a basket, and some tape.
Open the newspaper, cut it in half, and tape the pieces together lengthwise to make a long strip.
You can add more later, so adjust the length according to the participants’ condition and ability.
Roll the long newspaper strip into a cylinder, place it in the basket, and you’re ready to go.
When the game starts, use your hands to wind it up as fast as you can—whoever finishes first wins.
It’s simple, fun to watch, and great for large groups.
Because it also trains upper-limb function while playing, it’s recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.
Hand-wrapping newspaper
Here’s a fun recreation activity using newspaper! The rules are simple: compete to see how fast you can roll up the newspaper using your hands.
You can make it more fun by setting different rules, like using both hands or only one hand.
Another exciting variation is to face each other and roll up the same sheet of newspaper from opposite ends to see who can roll up more.
The heated competition will get older adults watching to enjoy it together as well! This activity can be done while seated, so people who have difficulty standing or who use a wheelchair can also take part.