[For Seniors] Enjoy a Warm Spring! April Health Topics Roundup
As we enter April, the temperature is gradually getting warmer.
Perhaps more older adults are becoming active, too.
However, suddenly increasing activity can raise the risk of falls and be dangerous.
It’s best not to overdo it and to start moving your body little by little.
Some staff members may also be looking for recreational activities that are safe and enjoyable.
In this article, we’ll introduce recreational activities that older adults can do with peace of mind.
We’ve included spring-themed singing exercises, games, and brain-training activities, so please use them as a reference!
- For Seniors: Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy in April
- [For Seniors] Make an April Calendar: Fun Ideas to Brighten Your Mood
- [For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- [For seniors] April haiku. Exciting
- April events and observances that seniors can enjoy
- [For Seniors] Exercises to Walk Again. Fall Prevention
- [For Seniors] Spring Haiku. Spring Activity
- Recreation Activities Effective for Long-Term Care Prevention for Seniors
- [October Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
- [Elderly Care Facilities] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events
- [March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
- [For Seniors] Recommended! Seasonal Recreational Activities
- Recommended Indoor Exercises for Seniors
[For Seniors] Enjoy a Warm and Fun Spring! April Health Topics Roundup (41–50)
Dropping Colored Balls
We would like to introduce a color ball drop activity for pairs.
Have two older adults sit facing each other, each holding two sticks by their tips.
Place baskets labeled with colors between them.
Roll balls along the sticks and drop each ball into the basket with the matching color label.
This game emphasizes cooperation between the two participants.
Encourage them to communicate and synchronize their movements.
It’s a fun activity that can spark conversation and help expand social connections.
Tea Picking Game
Spring is tea-picking season, and by mid-April some places may already be harvesting the first flush.
Here’s a tea-picking game that lets you feel the arrival of spring.
Put paper-folded tea leaves into a box and have older adults pick them out.
Use clothespins to pinch the tea leaves.
Using clothespins helps improve finger sensitivity and stimulates the brain.
It’s said that fingertip strength declines with age.
By using clothespins, the fingers get exercised, which can help with everyday activities.
It’s also nice to play the tea-picking game with the song “Chatsumi” playing in the background.
Bamboo shoot digging
This is a game where you collect paper cups illustrated with bamboo shoots lined up in front of you, just like harvesting bamboo shoots one after another.
Compete to see how many you can collect within the time limit to build quick reaction skills while also engaging your upper body.
The procedure is to stack the bamboo-shoot paper cups onto a harvesting stick made by combining a paper cup and a cardboard wrap core, then bring them back to you—so the key point is to stack them firmly and pull them in.
Another recommended variation is to use two sticks, encouraging awareness of coordinated movements with both hands.
Baton relay
Sports day is often associated with autumn, but more schools are holding it in spring these days.
Let’s try a relay—the main event of this springtime activity.
It’s a speed game where you rely on a rope and pass the baton to the next person.
While it’s a simple competition you can do while seated, it helps develop quick movements needed to pass the baton smoothly.
By splitting into teams and competing, participants get more engaged and become more mindful of their body movements.
Spring Flavors Kanji Quiz
This is a simple kanji quiz that presents characters related to spring flavors and asks you to think of their readings.
Rather than just recalling the pronunciations from memory, let’s also use spring flavors to deepen interest in eating.
Some of these flavors are available year-round, so you might discover their peak season for the first time.
Be sure to craft your hints carefully so participants can feel themselves getting closer to the answer step by step and enjoy that moment when the answer finally clicks.
Spring wall craft (four-leaf clover)
Spring brings plants to life, and the way the scenery turns green makes you feel happy, doesn’t it? Here’s a decoration inspired by a symbol of that natural happiness: the four-leaf clover.
It’s a craft using coffee filters and watercolor paints, and the layered clovers create a striking three-dimensional look.
First, cut the coffee filter into the shape of a clover.
While it’s folded, soak it with paint to create a gradient.
Make several clovers in different colors, then use the cut-off pieces as stems or extra accents, arranging everything freely to finish.
Think about how you use color and placement, as well as how you layer the pieces to create depth, and build your creativity along the way.
Brain-training exercises by a spring brook
This is an exercise routine performed to the classic spring children’s song “Haru no Ogawa” (Spring Stream).
Feeling a sense of nostalgia through a well-known song can help stimulate the brain.
The lyrics clearly depict spring scenery, and the act of imagining the scene is also an important point.
To help participants fully connect with the lyrics, keep the movements simple and focus mainly on hand motions to further boost brain activation.
It’s also recommended to move the hands thoroughly, down to the fingertips, and to keep rhythm by marching in place.