Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Liven Up Your Day Service! Fun Beanbag Toss Activity

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.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

One of the items often used in day-service recreation is the beanbag (otedama).

Beanbags filled with adzuki beans or rice are soft balls that don’t hurt even if they hit you, making them a safe tool for everyone from children to older adults.

While many people picture juggling with two or three beanbags, it can be hard to come up with other ways to play.

In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of recommended beanbag games for day-service recreation!

Many of them are easy to play while seated, so older adults can enjoy them with confidence.

Give some new beanbag games a try!

[For Seniors] Let’s Have Fun at Day Service! Enjoyable Beanbag Toss Activities (41–50)

Keep tossing the beanbags!

Beanbag play—keep tossing them!

Keep tossing the beanbags!

Let’s take on the challenge of not knocking over the unsteady, wobbly piece of thick paper! We’ll introduce a game idea that uses beanbags you toss one after another.

Beanbags are familiar items to people in Japan, right? How about trying a game where you play using beanbags—tossing them one after another? Participants form a circle, and in the center you place a piece of thick paper or cardboard on top of a stand—then you’re ready to go! Players take turns throwing beanbags at the thick paper, aiming to land them on top.

It’s a thrilling game where the person who causes the thick paper to fall off the stand loses!

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Baton relay

Spring Sports Day II: “Baton Relay”

Baton relay

Competitive events are a big draw at sports festivals, but activities that everyone completes together are also popular.

The baton relay introduced here is one where older adults cooperate by threading a baton onto a string and passing it along.

Split into two teams, participants enjoy seeing how many times each team can pass the baton.

Through the act of passing it back and forth, a sense of unity develops and communication skills deepen.

Moreover, the feeling of accomplishment from successfully passing the baton leads to positive experiences and can help elevate mood.

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Wobbly Rod Movement

[Social Distance] Indoor recreation for seniors (daycare and nursing homes) using toilet paper cores and beanbags: 'Wobbly Stick Transfer'

Wobbly Rod Movement

It’s a simple game where you prepare several toilet paper cores with beanbags placed on top and move them to designated spots.

The key is to move them without dropping the beanbags, paying attention to keeping your body steady.

By changing the size of the toilet paper cores used as the base and adjusting the size of the beanbags, you can tailor the difficulty in various ways.

If you set the distance so it can be completed within arm’s reach, it’s a game you can enjoy while seated.

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Treasure Hunt

Recreation for Seniors: Super Exciting Brain Training—Beanbag Treasure Hunt Game

Treasure Hunt

Prepare about 10 to 20 paper cups and line them up in a row with the rims facing down.

Put beanbags inside a few of them, and you’re ready to go.

Treat the beanbags as treasure and play a treasure hunt game! First, have the participants play rock-paper-scissors to decide the order.

Starting with the first player, each person may lift only one paper cup per turn, and the first person to find a beanbag wins.

If you’re playing with two people, another fun way is to each hide beanbags under a set number of cups, and see who can find the other person’s beanbags faster.

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In conclusion

We introduced some fun recreational activities using beanbags. There were lots of games you can enjoy while seated, such as target games inspired by boccia and curling, and balance games. Beanbags are compact, easy to handle, and perfect for playing together. Be sure to incorporate them into your day-service activities and enjoy a fun time filled with smiles.