[For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
We’ve put together a collection of games and recreational activities that can be enjoyed at day care.
We introduce plenty of options, including simple games you can play while seated, brain-training games, and activities that help with hand and finger rehabilitation—so please use them as a reference.
Some activities require props, but they’re simple to make using recycled materials or items from 100-yen shops, making them easy for older adults to recreate.
Give them a try with everyone during recreation time or in small breaks.
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
- [For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory
- [For Seniors] Have Fun! A Collection of Group Game Recreation Ideas
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] Easy to try. Fun, crowd-pleasing recreation
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
[For Seniors] Enjoy Daycare: A Collection of Games and Recreational Activities (251–260)
Music Therapy Handbell Concert
Let me introduce music therapy using handbells.
In handbell ensembles, each person is responsible for specific notes on the scale, which actually requires a lot of concentration.
Even with familiar children’s songs, you need to remember exactly when to play your note.
The timing is important, and you also have to adjust the volume with your arm movements.
Because this sends a lot of stimulation to the brain, it can be expected to have brain-training effects.
In addition, since it is often done in groups, it naturally fosters interaction among participants, and the sense of accomplishment when it all comes together is exceptional.
[For Seniors] Enjoy at Daycare: Compilation of Games and Recreational Activities (261–270)
Music Therapy: Fun with Rhythm
Recreation that uses music is popular with many people.
This time, we’ll introduce ideas for rhythm-based music therapy.
When you move your body to a rhythm, it becomes a dual task: you have to both “listen” to the rhythm and “move” in time with it, processing these two actions simultaneously.
This creates a situation where the brain works to its fullest.
Above all, moving together to music tends to create excitement and a sense of unity, making it a fun activity for everyone.
Balloon Ring Relay
Balloons that move a lot with just a small amount of force can behave unpredictably even when you’re just carrying them sideways.
This game uses that awkwardness in a relay-style challenge where balloons are passed along in order.
Prepare ring-shaped balloons, and give each person a stick made from newspaper or a sponge.
At the starting signal, players use the sticks to pass the balloon to the next person, aiming to get all the balloons to the goal.
You can increase the difficulty—and the excitement once everyone gets used to it—by making the balloon rings smaller and the sticks longer.
Balloon Volleyball × Brain-Training Word-Guessing Quiz
It’s an activity that adds a quiz element to balloon volleyball so you can move your body and brain at the same time.
Attach pieces of paper with letters written on them to the balloons, keep the balloons floating, and observe them to read the letters.
It’s a game that tests various abilities: moving your hands so you don’t let the balloon drop, dynamic visual acuity to read letters stuck on an unstable balloon, and the thinking skills to rearrange the letters you’ve read into a word.
Rather than everyone competing for the right answer individually, it also seems like it would be exciting to have everyone cooperate to complete the word together.
Escape from the Balloon Tower
Seasonal events are very important for older adults.
Among them, the spring and autumn sports days are great opportunities to show what they can do.
This is especially recommended for seniors who enjoy physical activity.
The game we’re introducing, Escape from the Balloon Tower, involves building a tower with zip ties, placing balloons inside, and fanning them out of the tower using uchiwa (hand fans).
Four teams compete.
Because players fan with full effort, it’s a good way to strengthen the hands and arms.
You time the attempts, and the team with the fastest time wins—making it a very exciting game.
Balloon attraction
This event is perfect as a sports day recreation for seniors that can be enjoyed easily while seated.
Place a ring on the floor or on a table and set a balloon in the center.
Attach a long string to the balloon, and participants reel in the string to pull the balloon toward themselves.
It’s very safe and allows anyone to take part without strain, which is part of its appeal.
The excitement builds as the balloon gets closer.
The person who catches the balloon first wins, and making it a team competition creates a sense of unity in the venue.
It’s also recommended to try using red and white balloons for the respective teams.
Balloon Passing Game
This is a game that tests arm movements and handoff communication: you grasp a balloon with both hands and, with a large arm motion, pass it to the person behind you.
Since you’ll be seated and swinging your arms far back, keep your balance and maintain control as you proceed.
It’s also recommended to sing a nursery rhyme or similar song while playing; having a rhythm helps you pass the balloon smoothly and makes the handoff feel more seamless.
Encourage participants to focus on passing it to the next person, aim for careful, deliberate movements, and make sure to communicate clearly.