For Seniors: December Health Topics — Winter Recreational Activities to Warm the Body and the Heart

foot bath

[Care Facility] On this day, we provided a foot bath.

As December arrives, the winter chill really starts to set in, and the desire to warm up grows stronger, doesn’t it? A great health practice that helps you get through the cold—and is perfect for relaxation—is a foot bath.

It’s simple: just soak your feet in warm water.

Warming your feet improves circulation and helps warm your entire body.

You can enjoy it in various ways, like taking your time while chatting, or adding bath salts to enjoy the fragrance—there are plenty of versatile options.

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kappamaki

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Snowball fight with newspaper

Crumple up some newspaper and have a ‘snowball fight!’

For those living in Hokkaido, Tohoku, or along the Sea of Japan, snowball fights are the classic winter pastime.

I live in a warmer part of Japan, so I have no memories of snowball fights, and as a child I longed for a world blanketed in white.

Why not get moving with a “newspaper snowball fight,” using crumpled newspaper as pretend snowballs? All you need are lots of newspapers and some plastic bottles to use as targets.

Sit facing each other and try to knock down the other person’s plastic bottles with your crumpled newspaper.

You can add twists, like awarding higher points for larger bottles.

It’s sure to warm you up!

New Year’s card making

At the end of the year, it’s time for the customary New Year’s cards.

Younger people often make do with emails or stickers, but many older adults still send New Year’s cards every year.

So how about making New Year’s cards as a December recreation activity? You can easily create the zodiac motif or “Happy New Year” lettering using stamps and stickers, and then just add a short message.

If you want to put in more effort, try drawing your own illustration.

Pick a few recipients you’d like to send cards to, and give it a try!

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sasashina

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Christmas Exercise for Preventive Care

Christmas edition of preventive care exercises 💝 Get hyped—Merry, merry Christmas! ❄🎉🔔🗾⛄

Even simple brain-training exercises and calisthenics become fun when set to music, and keeping the beat helps make everyday movements smoother.

This time, we’ll do a routine to E-girls’ Christmas song “Merry × Merry Xmas★.” The movements are simple—like rotating the neck and stretching the arms—but directing attention to left and right sides also trains cognitive abilities.

Pay attention to expressing the rhythm and Christmas motifs, and be sure to highlight the fun aspect.

To boost the brain-training effect, try more complex variations, such as switching the combinations of arms and legs mid-song.

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kappamaki

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December wall decorations

kimie gangi Christmas wall display: 'Tissue-paper poinsettia Christmas tree' #tissuePaperCraft #massProduction #elderly #largeWallDisplay #glamorous

December brings lots of fun—Christmas, the busy end-of-year season, and rice-cake pounding.

How about making a wall decoration that captures that festive feeling? If you want a Christmas theme, you could include Santa Claus, reindeer, or decorated Christmas cakes.

For plants, ornamental cabbages and poinsettias are easy to make, too.

You could even combine ornamental cabbages and poinsettias to create a Christmas tree.

Using different materials like cellophane or tissue paper would give you a wide variety of wall decorations.

Let’s warm up our fingers with some scissor crafts first!

Christmas tree curling

[Christmas Activity] Curling Game! Easy to make once and use forever! A game you can play even during the COVID-19 pandemic! (Elderly care activity / Kids activity)

Let me introduce you to Christmas Tree Curling.

It’s a game where you slide a tree using your fingers.

Even during the cold days of December, you can enjoy it indoors while seated.

Because you move your fingers and wrists, it helps improve dexterity and flexibility.

The power control is tricky, which builds concentration, and the scoring is a good workout for the brain.

It’s easy to play together in a friendly atmosphere, so communication naturally increases.

The charm is that you can move your body while enjoying the Christmas mood.

Please try it with older adults and have fun together!

Create this year’s Kanji of the Year as a collage

Taught by an occupational therapist: Anyone can do it! How to make “collage letters” with simple scissor cuts [Chill Out with Crafts] #1

As a December recreation activity, we recommend creating your “Kanji of the Year” as a collage.

Cut out your favorite characters from magazines and newspapers, and paste them onto a backing sheet.

Searching for the characters is fun, and you can express a kanji that feels uniquely you.

It’s a wonderful activity that lets each older adult give shape to their own sensibilities and thoughts.

Sharing the finished pieces will spark lively conversation.

For those who find scissors or glue challenging, it’s helpful to prepare pre-cut materials in advance.

Enjoy a pleasant time together looking back on the past year.