[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] Handmade Game Ideas You Can Enjoy (41–50)
Handmade puzzle made of cardboard
Turn your own drawing into a puzzle! Here are some ideas for making a handmade puzzle out of cardboard.
It sounds fun to create a puzzle that’s uniquely yours, doesn’t it? This is a great, enjoyable idea for people who are good at drawing or simply love to draw! What you’ll need: cardboard, drawing paper, glue, paste, a ruler, a pen, a craft knife, clothespins, and more.
Cut up your drawing and it transforms into a puzzle! Adding a frame can also serve as a hint when fitting the pieces together.
Give it a try!
[For Seniors] Handmade, Enjoyable Game Ideas (51–60)
Mini simple puzzle made with origami
Let’s look for a design you like! Here are some ideas for a simple mini puzzle you can make with origami.
In recent years, origami featuring character themes and beautiful patterns has become available.
This time, let’s make a puzzle using origami and cardstock.
You’ll need two sheets of cardstock, origami paper, glue, and scissors or a craft knife.
Glue your favorite origami paper onto the cardstock, then cut it with scissors or a craft knife.
Once you attach a frame to the backing cardstock, it’s complete! Feel free to adjust the size and number of pieces as you like.
Origami Tangram
Seven pieces in total! Here are some origami tangram ideas.
Let’s make and play with colorful, pop-looking tangrams.
A tangram is a puzzle where you use seven pieces that divide a square to create various shapes.
This time, let’s make one with origami.
You’ll need seven 15 cm square sheets of origami paper and four 7.5 cm square sheets.
We provide clear, careful instructions for folding each part, so follow along and give it a try.
Japan map puzzle
A one-of-a-kind original! Here are some ideas for a Japan map puzzle.
These Japan map puzzle ideas are perfect for anyone wondering what kind of puzzle to make.
The items you’ll need are a permanent marker, a pencil, scissors, a blank map of Japan, carbon paper, a magnetic sheet, and a whiteboard.
The process of making the puzzle is fun too, so it’s perfect for those who enjoy detailed work.
Cutting the magnetic sheet with scissors takes a bit of technique, so it’s best to go at your own pace without overdoing it.
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!
Easy to make! Ping-pong Ball Bingo
Bingo is usually something you enjoy on paper, but how about trying a more game-like version? Ping-Pong Ball Bingo is a tabletop bingo game using an egg carton and ping-pong balls.
To make the base, simply prepare four empty egg cartons, open them up, and staple the four together—done! To play, place the egg cartons in the middle of the table and bounce ping-pong balls on the table so they land in the cartons.
If you line up three or more balls of the same color in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal row, you win.
Split into teams by ball color and face off!
Colorful Card Rec: Fish Edition Quiz
From the familiar to the unfamiliar, you can freely adjust the difficulty! Introducing the Fish Radical Quiz.
There are so many kanji that use the fish radical, and their readings change dramatically depending on the character on the right.
In this quiz, you keep switching the right-hand component and guess how the kanji is read.
Thinking about which fish it might represent mobilizes memory, reasoning, and language comprehension, providing excellent cognitive stimulation.
It also encourages lively communication among participants with fish-related topics.
Using colorful cards makes it visually fun too—be sure to make some and give it a try!