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)
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.
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.
[For Seniors] Fun for April! Games and Recreational Activities (31–40)
Fly away, balloon!
It’s a game where you use beanbags to knock balloons out of a marked area.
Having everyone shout “Ei, ei, oh!” before starting could help energize the body.
Focusing on the target and actually throwing—these are movements we don’t often do at home, so it’s great to have opportunities like this.
Another nice thing about this game is that you can enjoy it even while seated.
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.
Object Passing Game
This is a party game that gets more exciting with more people: the “Object Passing Game.” Form pairs and have each pair hold both ends of a towel.
Place a ball (or similar object) on the towel and carefully transfer it onto the next person’s towel.
Keep repeating this to carry the ball all the way to the goal.
You must not drop the ball or use your hands.
Try to pass it quickly without dropping it.
Switching to a smaller or lighter object makes the game a bit more challenging.
If there are many players, dividing into teams and racing for speed can make it even more fun.
Word fill-in-the-blank game
The letter-fill game really makes you think, doesn’t it? It’s a fun game that can stimulate the brain for both children and adults.
You draw several circles on a whiteboard or paper, and by putting just one character in them, you complete a word.
For example, if there are three circles and the word is three characters long starting with “a,” you say and write as many three-letter words beginning with “a” as you can: “aisu” (ice), “arare,” “akubi” (yawn), and so on—keep going as long as you can think of them.
It gets harder when the number of letters increases or when the letter goes in the middle.
Making a seasonal calendar
Let’s all work together to bind the calendars! If you enjoy coloring pictures or doing paper-based crafts, you’ll find this really fun.
Thinking about everyone sharing a carefully and slowly made calendar makes the work feel rewarding, doesn’t it? A calendar with seasonal illustrations—wouldn’t you look forward to turning each page one by one? How lovely!
