[For Seniors] Liven Up with Multiplayer Games! Ideas That Work for Groups of Around 30
Are you looking for games that a large group of around 30 people can enjoy? When organizing recreation for many participants, you want to choose activities that everyone can join and that really liven things up.
From seated volleyball and balloon basketball to relays that test the cooperation of the entire team, there’s no shortage of ideas.
This time, we’ve put together suggestions you can start easily using familiar items like newspapers and handheld fans.
The conversations, smiles, and sense of accomplishment that arise through these games will add color to everyday life.
Be sure to incorporate them into your daily recreational activities!
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[For Seniors] Liven Up with Group Games! Ideas for Enjoying with Around 30 People (11–20)
Paper Cup Pulling Game
This is a fun paper-cup game that gets everyone excited.
When the music stops, you pull the strings attached to the paper cups that have been gathered.
To keep the cups from reaching the older participants, staff members press down on them from above with a basket.
Thinking about when the music will stop or when the basket will drop onto the cups creates a thrilling sense of anticipation.
Because you move your hands while predicting when the music will stop, it also stimulates the brain.
It’s not a complicated game, but it’s very engaging.
Give the “Paper Cup Pulling Game” a try!
Paper Cup Relay
With “rods made from newspapers,” you can play a paper-cup relay.
Preparation and rules are simple, so it’s great for a quick recreation activity when time is limited.
First, roll up sheets of newspaper to make rods.
If you make them together with older adults, the relay will likely be even more enjoyable.
Have the older adults sit in a row and hold the newspaper rods.
Use the rods to pass along paper cups.
By coordinating movements with the person next to them and calling out to each other, participants can experience things they don’t usually encounter in daily life through this game.
It also offers a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Gesture Game
Spring is the season when warmth returns, so I think more animals will start showing their faces outside.
This is a classic gesture game where you express various things—centered around such animals—through movement and have the people around you guess what they are.
It seems like it would be exciting to see each person’s unique way of thinking, such as what aspects of each theme they focus on and how they express them through movement.
Since it’s important to clearly imagine the theme, including the movements, the game helps develop creativity and concentration.
Speaking of ◯◯, the ◯◯ game
This is the association game “If you say ___, it’s ___!” For example, if the theme is “spring,” various keywords like cherry blossoms, school entrance, and graduation come to mind.
The game is to see which team can come up with more keywords related to the theme.
Split into two teams, and at the start signal, take turns writing down keywords one by one.
You can prepare a whiteboard, but simply saying them out loud one at a time also works.
The theme can be anything—try choosing something seasonal or a topic everyone knows!
The ‘It fell, it fell’ game
For those of you looking for indoor activities for a rainy day, the “Fell, Fell Game” is highly recommended! In this game, you sing a song about various things falling, and you pretend to catch the items that appear in the lyrics.
The poses change depending on the lyrics, so learning them may help stimulate the brain.
And when someone makes a mistake, it often leads to laughter, which helps communication flow.
Balloon Fan Relay
This is a fun relay you can do using a uchiwa (traditional Japanese fan) and a balloon.
Place an inflated balloon on top of the fan and do a relay.
If you can walk, set a turning point, make a full lap, and come back.
If walking is difficult, try passing the balloon to the next person while seated, within arm’s reach.
All you have to do is keep from dropping the balloon, but it’s exciting and enjoyable.
Team-based games also encourage cheering for others and cooperating.
You can experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that’s different from everyday life.
It can also spark conversation and help you refresh your mood.
[For Seniors] Liven Up with Group Games! Ideas for Enjoying with Around 30 People (21–30)
Balloon holder made with string
Using two strings, pairs work together to carry a balloon to the goal.
The rules and setup are simple, so it’s an easy relay to try.
The key to carrying the balloon well is cooperation between the two people and pulling the strings to guide the balloon.
Because you move your hands while thinking, it helps stimulate the brain.
Once you get the hang of it, try increasing the number of balloons for an extra challenge.
In fact, when we’re doing something we’re used to, the brain isn’t very engaged.
Raising the difficulty to the point where it feels “a little hard” can activate the brain and provide cognitive training benefits.
That said, the most important part of any recreation is that it feels fun.
Please adjust the activity to match the pace of the older adults.