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 for April! Games and Recreational Activities (31–40)
Tea Picking Game
Spring is tea-picking season, and by mid-April some places may already be harvesting the first flush.
Here’s a tea-picking game that lets you feel the arrival of spring.
Put paper-folded tea leaves into a box and have older adults pick them out.
Use clothespins to pinch the tea leaves.
Using clothespins helps improve finger sensitivity and stimulates the brain.
It’s said that fingertip strength declines with age.
By using clothespins, the fingers get exercised, which can help with everyday activities.
It’s also nice to play the tea-picking game with the song “Chatsumi” playing in the background.
Looking for a cup
This is a game where you re-stack nested paper cups by color.
Since they start already stacked and you can only slightly see the color differences, it may take longer than you expect.
Separating the nested cups also requires finger dexterity, so it could be useful for rehabilitation.
Competing on time with others might make it even more motivating.
Balloon holder bag with a string
Here’s a string-and-balloon game that’s sure to liven up spring events and gatherings.
Have several older adults sit in chairs facing each other, each holding one end of a string so that paired participants are connected and keep the string taut.
By moving the string up and down or sliding it side to side, they work together to carry a balloon to the goal.
Cooperation is key in this game.
Because participants call out to each other as they play, it naturally encourages communication as well.
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.
Cherry blossom viewing
When you think of spring, it’s got to be cherry-blossom viewing! It’s so much fun to eat lunch and sing songs under the cherry blossoms.
After the long winter ends and it gets warmer, you really want to get plenty of fresh air outside.
I hope you’ll help everyone make wonderful spring memories by doing fun hand-play games and singing spring songs together!
[For Seniors] Fun for April! Games and Recreational Activities (41–50)
Cherry blossom origami
When you think of spring, you think of cherry blossoms.
Hanami is great, but if it’s hard to get outside, how about making cherry blossom flowers with origami to enjoy a touch of spring indoors? The process has quite a few steps and involves delicate work, but since it uses fine finger movements, it doubles as brain training—a win-win activity.
Cut the origami paper in half, and add small cuts with scissors along the way as you make it.
You could try creating a gradient with different shades of pink—deep pink, light pink—and decorate a wall with them.
It will instantly bring a springtime atmosphere and lift your spirits.
A grand chorus of spring songs
When it comes to spring songs, what comes to mind for you? There are so many pieces, but ones everyone can sing together are the best, aren’t they? Whether indoors or as a fun activity for cherry-blossom viewing, this is lovely—try researching songs that everyone will enjoy and have fun with it!