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.
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[For Older Adults] Fun for April! Games and Recreational Activities (51–60)
Kick Darts
This is a game where you sit in a chair and kick a beanbag into the air, aiming to land it on a high-scoring area of the dartboard in front of you.
It helps develop the leg strength needed to send the beanbag to a distant dartboard and the ability to control force to reach the target spot.
The farther the dartboard is, the more power is required, so have participants try at distances suited to their stamina and muscle strength.
If you run it as a face-to-face match, players will likely focus even more as they try to beat their opponent.
A game where you make parody versions of the song Tulips
This activity involves taking the lyrics of Tulips, a classic spring children’s song, dividing them into blocks by character count, and then changing the words in each block.
Which part each person is responsible for is determined by a game using a target marked with numbers, and from there, participants come up with words that match the specified character count.
As long as the number matches, any words are acceptable; however, if you have everyone think of words with a spring theme, it should help them focus more deeply on the language.
Once all the blocks are filled, everyone sings the new lyrics together and checks whether the sound and flow feel pleasant.
Gift-stuffing game
This is a game where players compete to see how many presents they can stuff into their own bag within a time limit, taking them from a table.
When pushing the presents in, they should use force while still being careful not to tear the bag—encouraging awareness of strength control.
To keep players from focusing only on the simple act of stuffing, it’s recommended to make the presents colorful so the visuals are enjoyable too.
If you randomize the sizes and shapes of the presents, you can also add an element of judgment in choosing which ones to put in the bag.
Northern Country Spring Exercises
We would like to introduce an exercise set to the classic song “Kitaguni no Haru,” which most older adults are likely familiar with.
March in place during the intro, then raise and lower your hands, do open-and-close (grip-and-release) movements, and tap your hands, shoulders, and knees.
There are also twisting motions for the neck and torso, so be careful not to overexert yourself.
It’s a good idea to review the movements beforehand if it’s your first time.
When doing this as a recreation activity at a senior facility, giving prompts such as “Next is marching in place,” each time will make it more enjoyable.
[For Seniors] Fun for April! Games and Recreational Activities (61–70)
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.
Exercises related to spring
Did you know that people with declining cognitive function often show signs such as lower leg muscle mass, fewer red blood cells, and reduced agility? This time, we’ll introduce exercises with a spring-themed twist that can help address these issues.
The flutter-and-stop hand movement trains agility, and the leg-raising movement strengthens everything from the legs to the abdominal muscles.
Using onomatopoeia—like “pika-pika” (sparkling) for a shiny entrance ceremony and “goku-goku” (gulping) for cherry-blossom viewing—stimulates brain activity, and expressing them with the body adds exercise benefits.
The content is bound to make you chuckle whether you do it or watch it, making it perfect for recreational activities in senior care facilities.
Difficult-to-read kanji related to spring
Spring is a season when we feel warmth, and many people strongly associate it with plants and animals becoming active.
This is a quiz that challenges you to read kanji related to spring, including springtime plants and animals.
It can be hard to give the reading from the kanji alone, so it may be easier if you use the kanji used and the season to make an educated guess.
You might find that there are words you know in speech but have never had a chance to write in kanji, so this quiz could lead to new discoveries.