[For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
We’d like to introduce autumn-themed activities and recreation games for seniors.
Autumn brings pleasant weather that makes you want to go out.
It’s great if you can just decide, “Alright, let’s go!” and head out, but some people find it difficult to go out as they’d like.
So in this article, we’ll introduce enjoyable recreation games you can play indoors.
There are plenty of crafts and team-competition games that are useful in settings like day service centers, so please make good use of them.
Let’s play and feel the autumn season!
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- [November Health Topic] Indoor Recreation Ideas for Older Adults
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoy September’s Autumn Fun! A Collection of Craft, Game, and Exercise Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recreation Games Related to October Events
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- September Health Topic: Introducing Recreational Activities That Capture the Feeling of Autumn’s Arrival
- [For Seniors] Simple crafts that feel like autumn: a fun creative activity
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [October Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Your Day Service! Fun Beanbag Toss Activity
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games (71–80)
Crazy Party Night: The Revenge of the Pumpkin
This content recreates the dance from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s “Crazy Party Night ~Pumpkin no Gyakushū~,” which portrays the spookiness and fun of Halloween.
The track is notable for its powerful beat and sound expressions in the lyrics, so firmly catching the light, buoyant rhythm is the key to moving your body enjoyably.
The choreography mainly features simple upper-body movements overall, so if the steps are difficult, try doing it while seated in a chair.
It’s a comical dance with a cute vibe, making it a routine that lets you feel the atmosphere of a fun Halloween night with your whole body.
Shoo Away Game
Let’s play a fun game using balls made from crumpled paper.
It’s called the “Shoo-It-Away Game.” Crumple up sheets of paper or newspaper into balls and place them in a horizontal line in the center of the table.
Before you start, put a strip of tape across the middle of the table to mark the center line.
This tape divides the table into your side and your opponent’s side.
When the game begins, use your hands to push the paper balls into your opponent’s territory on the opposite side.
The rules are simple, but it sounds like it could get exciting.
If you make the paper balls pink, they’ll look like cherry blossoms—perfect for an April game.
It also encourages conversation among participants and can help promote communication among older adults.
There’s no such thing as ghosts.
This activity involves moving your body to the lyrics of the children’s song “Obake nante nai sa,” which expresses feelings about ghosts.
The movements are simple and match the lyrics, and a key point is that you can do them while sitting in a chair or even while singing.
Since the song portrays both insisting that there are no ghosts and being scared, paying attention to facial expressions can make it even more enjoyable.
Not only using your hands but also moving your entire upper body side to side helps you feel the rhythm in your body and enhances the sense of fun.
[For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games (81–90)
Bakechama the Ghost
This is a comical and cute song in which “Bake-chama,” a ghost who’s actually a scaredy-cat, introduces themself.
The choreography is simple, focusing on the swaying movements of a ghost—have fun moving your body to the calm rhythm.
Not only the big, full-body motions but also the hand-waving is a highlight, helping you stay aware of the sensation of blood flowing to your fingertips.
Since the upper-body movements are the main focus, it should be enjoyable to do even while seated in a chair.
Ghost Fireworks Ondo
Ghosts are an essential motif for Halloween, but in Japan they also strongly evoke summertime.
It might be interesting to incorporate this piece—depicting a summer festival scene themed around ghosts—into your Halloween.
A key feature is the inclusion of ondō elements, making the rhythm easy to grasp so you can move calmly and enjoyably.
Express the fun with swaying, ghost-like motions and Bon Odori-style movements.
Beanbag Tower
Many older adults may have played with beanbags when they were young.
Some may have also played beanbag games with their own children or grandchildren.
Here’s a game that uses those beanbags to build a tower.
The rules are simple: compete to see how many beanbags you can stack on top of an upside-down paper cup.
By holding and stacking the beanbags, you can expect to improve or maintain fine motor balance and concentration.
You can focus and play on your own, or make it a team competition for extra excitement.
If you like, please give it a try.
Stroll activity
When October comes, the heat eases and it becomes much more comfortable, doesn’t it? With October’s refreshing, pleasant weather, how about enjoying a walk as a recreational activity? Even on familiar routes, walking on a nice day feels good and can be fun.
For those who find walking difficult, going out in a wheelchair to get some fresh air can be a great way to refresh.
A stroll is also helpful for a change of pace, so it’s recommended for those who feel irritable.
Breathe in the fresh air outside and take a deep, full breath.
