[For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities

Towel relay with newspaper

2 Recreation Mini-Activities You Can Do with a Newspaper Stick and a Towel

Here are two games that use newspapers and are great for getting a large group excited.

The first is the Newspaper Towel Relay.

Have older adults sit in a circle, and use a long, rolled-up newspaper stick to pass a towel to the person next to them.

The person who receives it last should throw their hands up and shout to signal the goal.

The second is the Towel Catch Game.

The person holding the towel throws it toward a teammate, and the teammate catches it with a newspaper stick.

The thrower needs to control the strength of their throw, and the receiver needs to imagine where it will fly in order to catch it well.

Recreational activities that get lots of people involved can spark conversations between those who don’t usually interact.

Enjoy these activities that help expand your circle.

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moko

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Newspaper Dart

Today's activity: Newspaper Darts

Let me introduce Newspaper Darts.

Cut holes—circles, triangles, squares, etc.—into a large cardboard box and assign points to each.

To prevent the edges of the holes from tearing, it’s a good idea to reinforce them with vinyl tape or similar.

Roll up sheets of newspaper tightly to make long, thin sticks.

This recreation uses those newspaper sticks as darts! Compete by totaling the points of the holes you throw them into.

It’ll be exciting as a team competition, too! It’s a game that involves raising your arm and concentrating to aim for the holes—perfect as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.

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moko

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Fan Beanbag Relay

Ojami Relay #Recreation #DayServiceRecreation #DayService

Let me introduce a fan-and-beanbag relay that everyone can enjoy.

Have participants sit in chairs in a single row, and use handheld fans to pass along a beanbag.

Because it’s done while seated, even people who find it difficult to stand or move their bodies can likely take part.

Since both the fan and the beanbag are light, it doesn’t require much strength.

And with fans and beanbags, there’s less risk of injury if something is dropped.

Through the relay, people will call out to one another and work together as a team.

It might even spark new interactions.

You can also make it more exciting by forming two lines and holding a head-to-head relay competition.

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Nakajima Junko

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Beanbag Catch

Beanbag catch with a sushi tub 😁 Such an easy activity 😆 #dayservice #senioractivities #shorts #easy #recreation

Let’s have fun with a beanbag-catching game.

Toss beanbags to older adults seated in chairs, and have them catch the beanbags using a container.

Everyday items like a colander, bowl, or sushi tub work just fine.

It’s enjoyable with both large and small groups.

A team competition to see who can catch the most beanbags is also recommended.

The lively atmosphere will likely encourage interaction among participants, and it’s a refreshing activity for everyone.

Beanbag Catch Relay

Beanbag Catch with a Bucket [Senior Recreation]

Using beanbags and a bucket, here’s a beanbag catch relay.

Have the older adults sit in chairs in a single line.

Give the bucket to the person at one end, and have each person catch the beanbag that comes their way using the bucket.

After catching the beanbag, pass the bucket to the next person.

Catching the beanbag that flies toward you is said to help train reflexes.

Even while seated, you’ll be moving your body, so you can do brain training and exercise at the same time.

Once everyone gets used to it, gradually adjust the difficulty by increasing the throwing speed of the beanbags.

It really livens things up, and attempting tasks that feel a bit challenging is also said to help activate the brain.

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Nakajima Junko

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