[For Seniors] Handmade Game Ideas You Can Enjoy
Games and recreational activities are essential in senior facilities like day-care centers.
In this article, we introduce handmade games you can enjoy.
Some are made using recycled materials like milk cartons and newspapers, while others use items you can get at 100-yen shops, such as paper cups and disposable chopsticks.
All of them involve thinking, competing, and playing, so they serve as brain training—and best of all, they foster communication.
In team competitions, everyone might get fired up, focus on the game, and end up in a frenzy!
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[For Seniors] DIY Game Ideas You Can Enjoy (21–30)
Balance board game
A heart-pounding balance board game with a tower that looks like it could collapse any moment! The key is to deliberately make the board unbalanced when crafting it from cardboard.
If you attach a cone-shaped piece underneath the board, you’ll get that perfect mix of “stackable but unstable.” Once the board is finished, just stack the layers, set them in place, and toss beanbags or similar items at the board! It’s also a great idea to add a small, high-point target on the topmost board.
Gather everyone around, take turns throwing, and have fun together.
Fish fishing game
Let me introduce a fishing game that’s fun to make and fun to play, where you can wind the thread like a reel.
Get some chopsticks, a straw, a paper cup, twine, and a magnet, and let’s get started.
Poke one hole on each side near the top of the paper cup.
Cut and attach the straw pieces to create the reel part of the fishing rod.
Make sure it rotates smoothly.
Thread the twine through and check the rotation so that it winds up as you turn it and can reel in the fish.
Secure the magnet firmly so it won’t come off.
See how many fish you can catch and have fun!
[For Seniors] DIY Game Ideas You Can Enjoy (31–40)
10-yen game
Here’s a 10-yen coin game where you aim for the circle marks and drop in 10-yen coins.
Glue ice pop sticks cut to different lengths onto a board to create paths for the coins to travel.
Add character illustrations and stick on circle and X markers.
After covering and protecting it with a clear case from above, cut the ice pop sticks to build the pinball-style launcher section.
Fine adjustments will make the gameplay even more fun.
Try making it with your favorite characters and enjoy!
Clothespin scooping
Let’s try a goldfish-scooping style game you see at fairs, using a fan (uchiwa) and clothespins.
Place clothespins on a table, prepare a paper cup or basket, and use the fan to scoop and drop the clothespins into the container.
It looks simple, but it seems to take some skill to scoop the clothespins with a fan.
Since you use your hands, it can also serve as a bit of training.
You can focus and play alone, or play head-to-head with two people and compete for the fastest time to scoop up all the clothespins.
Cardboard Tetris
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Guaranteed to get your heart racing with excitement! Here’s an idea for cardboard Tetris.
Many of you have probably played Tetris in a video game, right? This time, let’s try making a Tetris set out of cardboard.
You’ll need cardboard, colored paper, a permanent marker, double-sided tape or glue, and scissors or a utility knife.
Once you’ve finished making the Tetris minos, hosting a Tetris showdown is sure to be a hit.
Give it a try!
Card flip
This is a simple card game where each card has a different color on the front and back, and players keep flipping them to a designated color.
It’s basically a competitive format: both players flip cards to their own color and compete to see which color is more prevalent when time runs out.
Consider rules like allowing flips with only one hand to help balance participants’ abilities as much as possible.
A 2-on-2 team match is also recommended, as it gets heated by emphasizing not just speed but strategy as well.
Ball Drop Game
It’s a ball-drop game you can make by combining items you can get at a home improvement store! All you need are a wire grid, gardening poles, and the balls that go inside.
Stand the wire grid upright in a triangular tube shape, then insert the poles so that they crisscross.
Once you place the balls on top, you’re ready to play! Take turns pulling out the poles; whoever causes the last ball to drop loses.
Some people pull carefully, while others intentionally drop a bunch to put pressure on the next player! Seeing everyone’s strategies peek through might just be one of the most fun parts of this game.