Recommended for seniors: Fun and engaging Christmas exercises
Christmas is a special event not only for children, but also for older adults.
Many senior care facilities and day service centers likely hold Christmas events every year.
In this article, we’ll introduce exercises that are perfect for seniors and will liven up your Christmas event.
Feel free to use them for recreation at your Christmas gathering.
Doing exercises to Christmas music will make the party even more exciting.
Let’s work together as a staff to create moments filled with smiles for the seniors.
If you’re struggling to plan activities for your Christmas event, please use this as a reference.
[Recommended for seniors] Fun Christmas Exercises (1–10)
A Hasty Santa Claus You Can Do While Sitting
Speaking of Christmas, there are dreamy stories about Santa Claus riding in a sleigh pulled by reindeer to visit children’s homes.
It’s like a page from a picture book, and it’s a season that warms the heart.
There are also many children’s songs related to Christmas, so how about some exercises set to music for your Christmas event? Try stepping in place and clapping along to the lyrics of the children’s song “Awatenbō no Santa Claus” (The Hasty Santa Claus).
Listening to “Awatenbō no Santa Claus” might bring back memories of Christmases spent with your children or grandchildren.
From there, conversations may start and connections may grow.
Easy rhythm exercises for Jingle Bells
This is an exercise routine that emphasizes the fun of moving your body, producing sounds with bells and clapping in time with the music.
By letting the bells ring, participants can fully feel the world of “Jingle Bells.” A key point is which part of the body you strike to sound the bells.
By gradually making the combinations of hands and feet more complex, you can also add a brain-training effect as participants think about what movement comes next.
Rather than focusing on speed, encourage them to perform each movement accurately and use large motions to get their bodies moving thoroughly.
Care-prevention pole exercises
Let me introduce the “Preventive Care Stick Exercise,” a fun, gentle way to get moving at a Christmas party that can also help with cognitive health and stress relief! All you need is a stick that acts like a dumbbell and a chair.
If you don’t have a suitable stick, you can make one by rolling up newspapers; if you want more weight, try wrapping ankle weights around it.
Prepare Christmas-themed music like Jingle Bells as BGM, and work mainly on your arms and shoulders in time with the music.
If you’re using a homemade stick, decorating it with a Christmas look will make the workout even more fun!
Winter Wonderland
One of the Christmas songs that seem to be heard from out of nowhere when winter comes is “Winter Wonderland.” Its bright sound and lively rhythm create a cheerful, exciting atmosphere.
Although the song originated in the United States, it has been translated into various languages and is sung all around the world.
Even if you remain seated, moving your upper body broadly or stepping your feet can serve as a stretch and a moderate amount of exercise, so I recommend it.
I think it’s a song that even older adults are familiar with, so why not include it in your Christmas recreation activities?
Group calisthenics with everyone clapping together
As December arrives, many facilities decorate their interiors to evoke the Christmas spirit.
Some older adults may feel their hearts lift at the lively decorations.
Here, we’d like to introduce an exercise that’s perfect for Christmas events.
Try raising both arms and twisting your spine to the hymn “Joy to the World.” Moving your body to pleasant music can help refresh your mood.
Of course, it’s also recommended as a December exercise even outside of Christmas events.
Christmas Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise
Here’s a “Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise” that’s perfect for Christmas events.
Rock-paper-scissors is a game that works when you have an opponent, right? This exercise can be done in pairs or with groups, making it ideal for recreational activities with many participants, like events.
For example, if one person first shows “rock” with their hand, everyone else should show “paper,” which beats rock.
You could also make it a game where people try to lose on purpose by showing “scissors,” which lose to rock—this can be exciting too.
You can add variations to rock-paper-scissors to make it more fun, such as giving unique names to rock, scissors, and paper and calling them out as you play.
It might feel difficult for older adults at first, but it’s said that the brain is more easily activated when something feels a little challenging.
Give it a try—experiment with different twists and enjoy playing rock-paper-scissors together.
Handbell performance
Handbells, with their soothing bell tones, can heal and encourage the heart.
In the world of handbells—which trace their roots to church bells—competitions or contests that rank performances are said to be quite rare.
Why not incorporate these gentle handbells into your Christmas party activities? Handbells are easy for beginners to play, so many older adults can take part.
Playing instruments or singing allows people to participate together and enjoy a sense of unity with those around them.
This fosters connection, reduces feelings of loneliness, and supports emotional stability.
As a result, it is also said to help alleviate symptoms of dementia.