[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] Enjoying Daycare: A Compilation of Games and Recreational Activities (281–290)
Table game using a ball
How about a simple table game for recreation where older adults can play with a ball while seated? All you need is a rubber ball and a table—its simplicity is part of the appeal! The rules are straightforward: keep a rally going by bouncing the ball.
It’s surprisingly exciting.
Once everyone is used to one ball, try using two! You can also enjoy it as a game of catch or split into teams of three-on-three.
It’s perfect for gentle physical activity for seniors, so give it a try!
Tabletop bowling
A game where you place a single pin made from a plastic bottle at the far end of the table and roll a ball to knock it down.
Using a rubber ball or a beach ball is safe and will likely make the movement more fun.
You can also make adjustments like using a smaller ball or adding more pins.
Doing it on a table lets you enjoy it while staying seated.
Blowgun game
Blow darts can also serve as an exercise to strengthen the lungs and as rehabilitation to help prevent aspiration.
This video introduces a simple way to make blow darts out of paper.
If you make the blow darts together from scratch, it could also provide hand exercise.
Adding scores to the target to make it more game-like would probably make it even more fun.
For Seniors: Enjoy Daycare. A Compilation of Games and Recreational Activities (291–300)
Reminiscence Session: Nostalgic Tools from Early Showa Era
Reminiscence therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which you choose a theme, recall past memories, and reflect on the scenery, environment, and your own self from that time.
To help you remember, it’s good to prepare photos or videos of tools you used in the past—or the actual items if possible.
By recalling details such as how the tool was used (“I used it like this”), when and under what circumstances (“I used it at night after finishing farm work”), or specific experiences (“I was scolded because I couldn’t use it well”), you can evoke a wide range of memories.
You may learn related episodes and even remember things the person themselves had forgotten.
When continued, this approach is considered to have beneficial effects on improving cognitive function.
Newspaper Stick Holder
The “newspaper stick drop,” where you put sticks made from newspaper into a milk carton.
It’s a very simple game, but you might be surprised by how engaging it is.
Because it requires fine hand movements, it also serves as finger exercise.
Even people with hemiplegia can participate without strain, so everyone can enjoy it together.
The rules are easy to understand since all you do is insert the sticks into the holes of the milk carton.
The sense of accomplishment when you get a stick in is fantastic.
It’s also fun to compete in teams to see how many you can insert within a time limit.
All you need are newspapers and milk cartons, so you can start right away—highly recommended.
Newspaper Tug-of-War
We start by folding and twisting the newspaper to increase its strength, which also serves as an exercise for the fingers.
Pulling hard provides a workout for the arms as well.
Doing the activity face-to-face with a partner naturally fosters interaction, and it seems like a recreational activity that would naturally bring out smiles.
Flag-raising game
This is a game where you move red and white flags in your hands up and down according to given instructions.
Your ability to listen carefully and then move—distinguishing between commands like “raise” vs.
“don’t raise” and “lower” vs.
“don’t lower”—is put to the test.
Once you get used to it, it’s recommended to gradually increase the speed of the instructions.
By requiring quicker decisions, you can further stimulate the brain.
To help players focus on listening and moving, it’s also a good idea to make the flags easier to hold—for example, by forming them into rings.
