![[For Seniors] Recommended in December! Safe and Fun Indoor Recreation](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O-mTm3sPqiI/hqdefault.jpg)
December is a busy month at the end of the year.
It’s also a season when the cold is more noticeable and people tend to have fewer opportunities to go outside.
With that in mind, here are some physical activities and crafts for older adults that can be enjoyed indoors where it’s warm.
These are December-themed recreations, so they allow participants to see, feel, and enjoy the season while experiencing a sense of seasonal atmosphere.
They also provide various mental and physical stimulation—moving the body, using the fingers, thinking, and creating opportunities to interact with friends.
Please make good use of these recreations.
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- For seniors: Decorate the December wall with a tree. Easy ideas using origami and yarn.
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For Seniors: Recommended in December! Safe and Fun Indoor Recreational Activities (1–10)
Christmas tree fishing
“Christmas tree fishing,” as in fishing for Christmas trees.
Attach empty boxes or small plastic containers under little Christmas trees and fill them with small gifts like candy or toys.
Make a fishing rod with a stick and string, and try “reeling in” the trees.
It’s exciting to see what you’ll catch!
Which is faster? Game
Place a Santa Claus figure on a sled made from cardboard and reel it in by winding a string! It’s a game where you compete to see who can pull Santa in the fastest.
Since you just sit in a chair and pull the string—rather than moving around while dragging the sled—it’s easy for older adults too.
How about adding it as one of your fun Christmas games?
Cap Tree Challenge
How about a “Cap Tree Challenge,” using plastic bottle caps as a Christmas tree, for an activity at a senior facility? Using origami in various shades of green will make it even more festive! Cut the origami to match the size of the caps and glue it on—enjoy the lively crafting time together with the seniors.
Then, play a game where participants use chopsticks to stack the decorated caps as high as possible within a time limit.
It’s sure to be a hit at a Christmas party! It also serves as fine motor rehab, so give it a try.
Making a pine cone tree
How about making a “Pinecone Tree” for a Christmas activity using pinecones and items from a 100-yen shop? It really elevates the holiday mood, so be sure to enjoy making it together with older adults! The wood and pinecones you use can be ones you’ve actually gathered outdoors.
You’ll be attaching small materials with a hot glue gun, so please be careful to avoid burns.
Of course, you can also use regular glue for a safer process.
Another charm is that the tree’s look will vary depending on the materials you choose! Let’s create a one-of-a-kind tree just for you.
Making Santa Claus
Why not make a “Santa Claus” using a toilet paper roll and supplies from the 100-yen shop? It’s a great craft for Christmas activities at senior care facilities, too.
Felt has a cozy, warm texture, making it perfect for crafts in the cold season! If you don’t have felt, you can make it even simpler with construction paper or origami.
All you do is cut the materials and glue them onto the toilet paper roll, so it’s easy for anyone to try.
Since it’s a cold season when outdoor activities can be difficult, give this a try for your indoor recreation!
Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK New Year’s Eve “Red and White Song Battle”)
Speaking of year-end traditions, there’s NHK’s “Kōhaku Uta Gassen.” Let’s try it together with older adults as a recreational activity! Even if you’re not confident in your singing, projecting your voice from your belly can make you feel refreshed and help relieve stress.
Let’s all have fun together by livening things up with clapping, call-and-response, and group singing!
Poinsettia mural
Let’s make poinsettias, also known as Christmas flowers, using tissue paper! You will need two sheets of green tissue paper, three sheets of red tissue paper, and half a sheet of yellow tissue paper.
It’s easy to make—just create an accordion fold and use scissors, a stapler, and glue.
The yellow tissue paper is torn into smaller pieces and rolled into balls, which can be a good finger exercise for older adults.
To add volume, stack the green and red tissue papers before folding.
If you want even more volume, you can simply increase the number of sheets.
