Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers for the Elderly
Sports days are loved by people of all ages.
These popular sports days are also held at day service centers for seniors.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended events for sports days held at such day service centers.
The events, such as bread-biting races and ball toss games, are classic activities adapted for older adults.
They’re designed to be safe and enjoyable.
There are also unique events like stick soccer, and many can be enjoyed while seated.
We’ve gathered a variety of unique activities tailored for seniors.
Let’s move our bodies and enjoy a healthy, fun time!
- [For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely
- Recommended Indoor Exercises for Seniors
- [Elderly Care Facilities] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- For Seniors: Fun Entertainment That Excites at Nursing Homes
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
- [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: Simple and exciting! Ideas for staff performances
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Highlights of Fun Events at Day-Service Centers
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for Sports Day at Daycare Centers (31–40)
Bread Carrying Race
When you think of popular events at a sports day, bread-eating races come to mind, don’t they? Many seniors might recall the fun of doing bread-eating races with friends as children.
The bread-carrying race we’re introducing this time involves placing craft-made bread on a box and competing while overcoming obstacles.
It’s gentle on both body and mind for older adults, so it can be enjoyed even while seated.
It’s also great for training balance and concentration, so we highly recommend it.
Ending the event by eating bread together could add an extra bit of fun and motivate participants to try even harder.
Ping-pong ball catch
May and June, when temperatures gradually rise and it feels good to get moving, are the perfect season for exercise.
Prepare some fun activities and gently loosen up bodies that got sluggish over the winter! This time, we’re introducing “Ping-Pong Ball Catch.” Attach strips of duct tape in a grid pattern across a hula hoop, then have someone hold it with the sticky side facing up.
From a distance, throw ping-pong balls and have them catch the balls on the taped area.
Adjust the size of the hoop according to participants’ abilities so everyone can enjoy it.
It also serves as upper-limb training while you play, making it a great recommendation for recreational activities in senior care facilities.
Paper core feed
Games that everyone cooperates on really get people interacting and create a lively atmosphere.
This time, we’d like to introduce “Paper Core Relay,” a game with simple movements that anyone can enjoy.
Prepare a long table, and have both teams sit along the sides.
Stretch a strip of plastic ribbon (suzuran tape) from end to end, and have the first and last players hold each end of the tape.
At the start signal, the first player begins threading paper cores onto the tape one after another.
The team that sends even one more paper core than the opposing team within the time limit wins.
It’s also fun to plan strategies together!
Tug-of-war with a newspaper using your feet
Tug-of-war is one of the most exciting events at a sports day, isn’t it? It brings everyone together to cheer as a team and deepens communication.
This time’s “newspaper tug-of-war with your feet” can be done while seated, making it an easy activity for older adults of all abilities to join.
To keep it safe, be sure to sit firmly in a chair and hold onto the handrail while participating! The key to winning is to skillfully use your feet to pull the newspaper toward you.
Please enjoy it together with everyone.
Using your feet also helps strengthen your muscles and core, so it’s highly recommended.
Bell cracking
The real thrill of a sports day is everyone on the team doing their best and getting lively over wins and losses, right? This time, we’d like to introduce “Suzu-wari,” a team event that really gets the crowd going.
You’ll need two large colanders, red and white tissue paper flowers, and some balls.
Attach the red and white tissue paper to the large colanders, then face the openings of the colanders together and stick them to create a big kusudama (paper ball).
If you put small pieces of paper in various colors inside, it’ll look beautiful when it opens, like a shower of confetti.
Once you hang the kusudama, all that’s left is for the players to throw balls at it! It’s fun and also serves as training from the shoulder to the fingertips, so even those who aren’t fond of rehabilitation will be happy to participate with this activity.
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers (41–50)
Beanbag Catch
Let’s have fun with a beanbag-catching game.
Toss beanbags to older adults seated in chairs, and have them catch the beanbags using a container.
Everyday items like a colander, bowl, or sushi tub work just fine.
It’s enjoyable with both large and small groups.
A team competition to see who can catch the most beanbags is also recommended.
The lively atmosphere will likely encourage interaction among participants, and it’s a refreshing activity for everyone.
Beanbag Catch Relay
Using beanbags and a bucket, here’s a beanbag catch relay.
Have the older adults sit in chairs in a single line.
Give the bucket to the person at one end, and have each person catch the beanbag that comes their way using the bucket.
After catching the beanbag, pass the bucket to the next person.
Catching the beanbag that flies toward you is said to help train reflexes.
Even while seated, you’ll be moving your body, so you can do brain training and exercise at the same time.
Once everyone gets used to it, gradually adjust the difficulty by increasing the throwing speed of the beanbags.
It really livens things up, and attempting tasks that feel a bit challenging is also said to help activate the brain.
