Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Recreations to Experience in August

Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

At day service centers and other senior facilities, staff are always thinking up recreational activities that elderly participants will enjoy.

We recommend seasonal activities that help stimulate both mind and body.

In this article, we’ll introduce recreational ideas that are perfect for August!

Speaking of August, Japan is full of unique seasonal events like festivals and Obon!

We’ve gathered many activities inspired by the classic sights and sounds of summer.

There are also refreshing ideas you can only experience during the summer, so please use them as a reference.

[For Seniors] Recreational Activities to Experience in August (51–60)

Ocean Herbarium

Let's make herbariums! Gyoda City Day Service Koubouan

Ocean Herbarium

Let’s try making a little ocean with a herbarium! A herbarium is made by putting flowers and oil into a small jar or a slender bottle.

To create an ocean-like scene, you might add leaves that look like seaweed.

Lay a layer of cute colored sand at the bottom, then add fish stickers or tiny figurines.

When placing items into the bottle, using tweezers is recommended.

Once you’ve added all your favorite ocean-themed materials, pour in the oil and it’s done! The oil gives it that soft, floating underwater feel, but it can still turn out beautifully even without oil.

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ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)

[Day Service] Ball-Toss Battle!

ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)

Tamaire, the ball-toss game often seen at school sports festivals.

Some older adults may have taken part in sports days and played tamaire in the past.

Here’s a perfect tamaire activity for a warm April day to get the body moving.

Because it’s a familiar game, it can help older adults refresh their mood and relieve stress.

Have participants sit in chairs and place a basket in the center.

Prepare red, white, and other colored balls, and have the participants throw them into the basket.

The person who gets the most balls in the basket wins.

Throwing with the arms and shoulders also provides upper-body exercise.

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Watermelon splitting

Unbreakable Watermelon-Splitting Contest!!

Watermelon splitting

Speaking of summer, watermelon splitting is a must, right? We used to do it at the beach or during recreational activities when we were kids, didn’t we? Let’s try doing watermelon splitting safely indoors! Place a watermelon in the middle of the room and walk up to it.

Then just tap the watermelon with a stick! But with a blindfold on, it can be quite tricky even if it’s right in front of you.

Use something light and safe, like a children’s baseball bat, as the stick.

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beach volleyball

Sometimes balloon volleyball is nice too, isn’t it?

beach volleyball

Let’s try holding a beach volleyball tournament! But instead of the sandy beach you might imagine and using a beach ball, let’s make it easy for anyone by using balloons—and do it indoors.

Split into two teams, set up a space like a court with a net in the middle, and mark boundary lines.

You can hit it back with your hands—and what about headers too? It’s also great that you can play while seated.

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Ping-pong ball scooping

day service, recreation, ping-pong ball scooping, seniors, caregiving, indoor, play, game

Ping-pong ball scooping

When it comes to classic festival stalls, goldfish scooping and super ball scooping are staples.

How about trying it with lightweight, easy-to-scoop ping-pong balls? Fill a large bowl with water and put ping-pong balls in it.

Use a poi to scoop them up and compete to see how many you can get.

The trick is to scoop gently and slowly—you’ll be able to get a lot more that way.

Don’t rush and give it a try!

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