Lovely senior life

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

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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] Enjoying Daycare: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities (51–60)

Shooting game

Best bang for your buck! A shooting-gallery game and recreation that will absolutely excite everyone from kids to seniors — how to make the setup and how to play

Shooting game

Here’s an idea for making a rubber band shooter from scrap materials.

You’ll need a plastic wrap tube, a toilet paper tube, rubber bands, and vinyl tape.

Connect two rubber bands together, then tape both ends of the rubber band to the rim of the toilet paper tube with vinyl tape.

Adjust the knot so it sits right in the center of the tube, and reinforce the sides by covering them with vinyl tape.

Cut small notches in the rim of the plastic wrap tube so the rubber band can catch there, and you’re done.

To fire, slide the plastic wrap tube through a toilet paper tube that will be your projectile, pull the projectile back, and let go.

The toilet paper tube will shoot forward with a satisfying burst of speed.

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Smart ball made with 100-yen shop materials

How to Make a Smart Ball Game with 100-Yen Store Materials: Pegboard Craft, Summer Project, Pachinko, Corinth Game

Smart ball made with 100-yen shop materials

How about planning the classic festival game “Smart Ball”? It’s very similar to pachinko, which many older adults know well, so playing it brings back nostalgic feelings.

You can buy a ready-made Smart Ball set, but they can be pricey, so it’s better to make one yourself.

For a small version, you can build it with materials from a 100-yen shop.

Attach wooden blocks to the four corners of a perforated board to make the base, and create a launcher at the lower right using a block of wood, a screw, and rubber bands.

Cut a large card case into a strip and install it along the inside top of the base.

Insert dowels wherever you like, hook rubber bands over them, and attach papers with point values.

Finally, add wooden legs to the back so the base is angled—and you’re done.

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Capsule Korokoro

This gets everyone super hyped ⬆️ The capsule rolls around~ 🤣 #seniorActivities #brainTraining #miniGame #shorts #dayService

Capsule Korokoro

You’ve probably seen capsule toy machines filled with toys and merchandise at arcades or supermarkets.

Let’s use those round capsules to play a lively game.

Attach a stick to an empty tissue box and use it to roll a capsule across a table.

The goal is to land the capsule in a target without letting it fall off the table.

To make the game even more fun, create gaps between the targets.

Placing the capsule without dropping it into the gaps is a great way for older adults to show their skill.

Cheering on the players and calling out to them can spark interaction with the people around them, too.

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Let’s play frisbee

[Senior Recreation] Let’s Play with a Frisbee: Plastic Bottle Edition

Let's play frisbee

Here’s a game using a frisbee.

Stand empty plastic bottles on the floor, and have the seniors throw a frisbee to knock them down.

Frisbees had a bit of a boom in Japan from the 1970s to the early 1980s, so some seniors may have played with them back then.

The game might also bring back fond memories.

Forming teams and competing for points can make it more exciting, but of course, it’s plenty of fun to play solo as well.

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[For Seniors] Enjoying Daycare: A Collection of Games and Recreational Activities (61–70)

Pinball with a cup

[Cheerful Recreation 🏀] Make a super popular game by hand! Pinball with cups! Guaranteed fun!

Pinball with a cup

Let’s make holes in a cardboard sheet and enjoy a pinball-style game.

It’s an arcade game that was popular from the 1970s to the 1980s.

You flick the ball and score points by hitting various mechanisms on the playfield.

Create features by cutting holes in the cardboard and standing up and gluing paper cups.

Tilt the cardboard that serves as the playfield and roll a ping-pong ball.

The player who has more ping-pong balls remaining in the basket set at the lower end wins.

The more holes you make in the cardboard, the higher the difficulty, so adjust the number accordingly.

With a design reminiscent of a nostalgic game from the past, it’s likely to be a hit with seniors as well.

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Yo-yo fishing

Yo-yo fishing

Yo-yo fishing

Here’s an idea for “yo-yo fishing,” perfect for summertime recreation.

In this simple game, you hook and lift colorful water balloons floating in a tub using a hook instead of a fishing hook.

It helps stimulate upper-limb movement—from fingers to shoulders—as well as concentration.

It’s also appealing because anyone can enjoy it safely, whether standing or seated.

Beyond the joy of a successful catch, it’s sure to spark lively conversations with other participants watching.

This popular activity lets you enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional summer festival and is ideal for creating summer memories.

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Handmade watermelon-splitting

Summer Festival Watermelon Splitting #community-based #elderly #dayservice #Tomarigi #unstoppableTomarigi #shorts #summerfestival #watermelonsplitting

Handmade watermelon-splitting

Watermelon is a classic summer food.

Many older adults may remember cutting a big watermelon and sharing it with everyone.

Some might also recall doing suikawari, the traditional watermelon-smashing game, on summer days.

Let’s enjoy an easy version of this summer-themed game.

Prepare a watermelon that has been cut in half in advance and place it on a table.

Blindfold the older adult and have them try to hit the watermelon with a stick.

If they manage to hit it, the watermelon splits in two.

It’s a playful way to relive childhood and fully enjoy the summer pastime of suikawari.

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