Recommended for seniors! Fun circle-based recreational activities
Recreational time at care facilities is so much more enjoyable when you can sit face-to-face with staff and friends, isn’t it?
In this article, we introduce fun, circle-based activities that are perfect for older adults—everyone can see each other’s faces while participating!
We’ve gathered a variety of activities: ones you can do seated using simple props like balls, ones you can do around a table, and even light exercises.
Enjoy them while sharing each other’s wonderful smiles!
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Exciting! Ball-Based Recreation
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
- [For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
Recommended for seniors! Fun circle-based recreational activities (11–20)
Spinning a stick and paper cup
Why not have a blast with a rolled-up newspaper stick and some paper cups? There are several ways to play: you can pass to the person next to you an item made by placing a paper cup over the end of the stick, or do a relay using just the paper cup.
For an even more exciting game, try throwing the cup that’s placed on the stick and aiming at a target.
In this case, have the facilitator stand in the middle holding up a basket, and aim to get the cups into it.
Since it can be dangerous if everyone throws at once, please take turns one by one.
karaoke
For older adults who enjoy singing, karaoke can be a delightful time.
Singing can help relieve stress and also trigger memories from when the songs were popular.
Some may find themselves reminiscing about the past, thinking, “Back then, this and that happened,” as they sing or listen to nostalgic songs.
In addition, moving the mouth while singing can be expected to have benefits as an oral exercise.
Even older adults who are not comfortable singing in front of others can still enjoy themselves by listening, clapping along, or humming together.
Towel relay with newspaper
Here are two games that use newspapers and are great for getting a large group excited.
The first is the Newspaper Towel Relay.
Have older adults sit in a circle, and use a long, rolled-up newspaper stick to pass a towel to the person next to them.
The person who receives it last should throw their hands up and shout to signal the goal.
The second is the Towel Catch Game.
The person holding the towel throws it toward a teammate, and the teammate catches it with a newspaper stick.
The thrower needs to control the strength of their throw, and the receiver needs to imagine where it will fly in order to catch it well.
Recreational activities that get lots of people involved can spark conversations between those who don’t usually interact.
Enjoy these activities that help expand your circle.
Paper Cup Pulling Game
It’s a reflex-testing game where you hold a string with a paper cup attached and, the instant the music stops, quickly pull the paper cup toward yourself.
There’s someone positioned near the paper cup to hold it down—try to move the cup faster than they can react.
Since you need to transfer the force from the string to the cup to reel it in, how you hold the string and how you pull it are key points.
You might also have fun making it a competitive format where players take turns being the holder and the puller.
Recreation using a whiteboard and rubber balls
It’s a recreation activity where you change the angle of a whiteboard to make it like a platform and roll balls across it.
Since you throw the ball onto the board while seated, there are moments when the ball disappears from your line of sight, which adds to the difficulty.
You need to anticipate how the ball will roll and, if you feel it will come your way, get into a catching posture—it’s a test of concentration.
If you increase the number of balls, they may collide on the board and change trajectories, which strengthens concentration even more.
Fox Dance
Let me introduce the Fox Dance that you can enjoy together with older adults.
It’s recommended because you can move your body while sitting in a chair.
After making a fox shape with your hands, use your arms and hands to dance.
The song has a quick tempo, but move within a comfortable range.
Once you get used to the moves, it could be fun to add some marching steps from the second round.
When it’s time to turn your neck, be careful to avoid falls.
The Fox Dance might be a great opportunity to spark new communication!
Recommended for seniors! Fun circle-based recreational activities (21–30)
Number Exercise
Here’s a fun number exercise where you get to learn movements, too.
For 1, touch your head with both hands.
For 2, cross your hands in front of your chest.
For 3, clap your hands and move your body.
The moves and rules are simple, but since you have to think, you might get a little confused at first.
Until you get used to it, say the numbers clearly and keep a slow rhythm.
Once it becomes familiar, try adding combinations where you call out two numbers, or speed up the rhythm for a challenge.
Let’s make it something you can enjoy while you practice.