[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 Collection of Games and Recreational Activities (271–280)
Flappy Paper Cup Sumo Game
Many people probably feel nostalgic about games related to sumo, like Tonton Sumo.
Here’s one to try: the Flappy Paper Cup Sumo Game.
First, set up a table and draw a line down the middle to make a ring.
Place a paper cup in the center, then have two players fan from left and right using uchiwa fans.
The rule is simple: if the paper cup falls off on your opponent’s side, you lose.
Sometimes the cup may fall off the side of the table—when that happens, reset and rematch.
It would likely be exciting to run it as a tournament, too!
Ping-Pong Ball Picking Game
A fun game you can easily enjoy at the table is the “Ping-Pong Ball Pick-Up Game.” Two people sit facing each other with a ping-pong ball placed in the center of the table.
The goal is to scoop up the ball with a spoon and carry it back to your own side.
Because ping-pong balls are light and spherical, they’re unstable on a spoon, so balance is key! This helps older adults develop their sense of balance and can also improve concentration.
Once everyone gets used to using the spoon, you can make it more challenging—and even more exciting—by switching to chopsticks.
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.