For Seniors: Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy in April
When April arrives, the temperature rises and grasses and flowers begin to bloom, and we often find ourselves thinking, “Spring is here,” don’t we?
This time, we’re introducing fun activities and recreations recommended for April, especially for older adults!
We’ve gathered a wide range of options—things that get the body moving, engage the mind, and use the hands—so why not try the ones that look enjoyable to you?
At day-service centers and other senior facilities, please enjoy these recreations together while feeling the warm spring sunshine.
- [For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- [For Seniors] Enjoy a Warm Spring! April Health Topics Roundup
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Recommended for day-service centers. A collection of craft ideas for April
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- April events and observances that seniors can enjoy
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For seniors] April haiku. Exciting
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
[For Seniors] Fun in April! Games and Recreational Activities (21–30)
Let’s make a butterfly
Spring—April, to be exact—is butterfly season! How about making a butterfly that’s perfect for this time of year? It’s a nifty little craft that can also be used as a message card.
All you need are things like wire, rubber bands, and paper.
It’s a bit similar to how you make a propeller airplane.
If you tuck it into a notebook or a gift, it’ll pop out when opened and give a little surprise.
Making hanami dango (flower-viewing sweet dumplings)
Speaking of spring, it’s the season for cherry-blossom viewing—and hanami dango! There’s even a saying, “dumplings over flowers,” and who can blame us when dango are so delicious! (Haha.) This is about making hanami dango by hand and enjoying them together while we admire the blossoms.
The ingredients are very simple: silken tofu, sugar, dango flour, and coloring like sakura powder or yomogi powder.
You can substitute other powders for coloring, such as strawberry or matcha.
Tofu in dango? You might wonder, but thanks to the tofu, they end up with a chewy, mochi-like texture.
[For Seniors] Fun for April! Games and Recreational Activities (31–40)
Sakura hanging ornaments
In Japan, April is strongly associated with new beginnings like starting school or a new job, and cherry blossoms are the classic flowers to celebrate these fresh starts.
How about boosting your excitement for spring with a cherry blossom–themed craft? Fold in a toilet paper roll, shape it into petals, and combine the pieces to create cherry blossoms.
Then, attach tissue paper to add color, and you’ll have blossoms with a soft hue and appearance.
You can attach twine to make a hanging decoration, or use them as part of a larger decorative display.
Uchiwa Battle
This is a simple, exciting tabletop game played with handheld fans (uchiwa).
Place lightweight items on the table—things that can stand on their own but wobble when fanned, like paper cups.
At the start signal, flap your fans to blow the items toward your opponent’s side or off the table on their side.
Compete to see who can move or knock more items into the opponent’s area or off their side.
It doesn’t have to be one-on-one; multiple people can play, and you can also play solo by seeing how many items you can knock off or how quickly you can do it.
Oral training
April 18 is “Good Teeth Day” in Japan because the numbers sound like the phrase for “good teeth.” Did you know that? Especially when we were kids, we were afraid of the dentist, so everyone brushed their teeth properly, right? How about making toothbrushing after meals and “oral exercises” before meals part of your routine? Oral exercises are said to help prevent aspiration, so they’re especially recommended for older adults whose throat muscles may have weakened a bit.
Hearing the word “training” might make you worry it’s difficult, but most exercises are surprisingly easy—like rotating your neck to loosen the muscles and tendons around your throat, or puffing out your cheeks to relax the cheek muscles.
Please give them a try.
line dance
How about trying a “line dance” that works with both small and large groups? You might imagine intense moves like high kicks when you hear line dance, but the essence is simply lining up side by side in a row.
Everyone stands in a single horizontal line, claps while marching in place, then spreads both arms in a V shape to link hands with the person next to them and the person next to that, crossing hands as if shaking hands with the neighbor.
People on both ends keep both hands inward: one hand connects to the neighbor, and the other reaches to the person beyond them.
Try changing the number of claps and gradually speeding it up.
Coloring with photos
Many of you have probably already done the classic coloring pages.
In that case, how about this photo coloring activity? Print photos in black and white, then color them freely.
You can even color clothing and more, so enjoy yourself with stylish ideas! After you’re done, it would be fun to hold an exhibition, too!
