[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 Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities (21–30)
Two simultaneous balloon volleyballs
@rcare_official Balloon volleyballArc CareCaregivingNursing care facilityTranslationHome-visit nursingRehabilitationCertified Care WorkerNursePhysical therapistCare Manager#GambaLoopFun workplaceStaff RecruitmentNursing Small-Scale Multifunctional In-Home CareCompany IntroductionBusiness Office Introduction#Okayama PrefectureTamano CityKokoyui
♬ Old Disney Swing Jazz – Nico
Let’s try balloon volleyball using two balloons.
Start by playing with one balloon, then introduce a second one partway through.
Having to keep track of the extra balloon may help stimulate the brain.
Adding a second balloon increases the difficulty compared to just one, which could make it more exciting for older adults as well.
You might even see great plays, like returning both balloons in succession.
You can also split into two teams and compete like in real volleyball for an enjoyable game.
Lots of balloon volleyball
@seasoncafe.yokohama TranslationRecreationElderlyBalloon
Sixth Sense – Reol
In many senior care facilities, balloon volleyball is often played with just one balloon.
Try boldly increasing the number of balloons.
Balloons are light, so even attaching about ten is fine.
Using balloons in various colors is also recommended.
Seniors may find it refreshing to play volleyball with something made from many balloons.
If you have the seniors sit on chairs in a circle and place a tosser in the center, rallies tend to last longer.
As the number of balloons increases, the whole thing becomes larger, which might also make it easier for seniors to make attacks.
High-five relay
@wakuwaku_idea No equipment needed! Super easy, quick, and fun! High-Five Relay#SeniorActivitiesInterestingTranslationrelay
♪ Original song – Idea Wakuwaku Rehabilitation – Idea Wakuwaku Rehabilitation
It’s a game where you pass along high-fives to the next person, aiming to reach the final teammate before the opposing team does.
After doing five high-fives with the next person, you move on to the following one, so the speed of your arm movements is put to the test.
However, even if one side is fast, it won’t count as a high-five unless the hands meet, so a sense of cooperation is also crucial.
It might be important not to focus too much on clearing the game, but to share the fun of high-fiving as well.
Giant Balloon Volleyball
@binsannohige It was a balloon activity 🎈 We put five balloons in a trash bag to make one giant balloon. Everyone got really spirited (lol). In another activity, we relayed a balloon to a basket using a plastic string.Day Service Center Aozora ClubElderly care facilityDay care (elderly day service)#Game RecRecreation#Balloon ActivityNow hiring! We warmly welcome your use.
♬ Smooth and stylish electro-pop EDM(1303650) – Matsuki
One of the great things about balloon volleyball is that you can adapt it using everyday items.
Try a supersized version by putting five inflated balloons into a clear trash bag.
It’s especially fun and colorful if each balloon is a different color.
Have older adults seated in chairs rally the giant balloon back and forth.
You can arrange everyone in a circle, or split into two teams for a head-to-head match to make it even more exciting.
Because the balloon is so big, the amount of force you use may feel different than usual.
That difference—and the novelty—are part of what makes this game enjoyable.
Balloon Toss & Attack Game
@bear_kids_official “Balloon Toss & Attack Game” — a game where you hit a target with a balloon using volleyball-style moves. By calling out to each other as a pair, children develop cooperation and communication skills, and adjusting the force on the balloon also helps improve fine motor control.BalloonVolleyballCommunicationAfter-school day serviceChild Development Support# developmental support (ryōiku)
♪ Original Song – BEAR KIDS – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support / After-School Day Service
This is a paired variation of balloon volleyball.
One person tosses the balloon toward their partner, and the partner aims and throws the balloon at a target using one hand.
Since partners cooperate and call out to each other, it helps promote communication.
Targets can be simple, everyday items like plastic containers or hula hoops.
Adding point values to the targets can make it even more fun.
Through the game, it would be great if people who don’t usually talk much can interact and expand their connections.