[For Seniors] Easy to try. Fun, crowd-pleasing recreation
For those who use senior care facilities or day services, lively recreational activities are important, aren’t they?
In this article, we introduce activities that everyone can try together as well as ones individuals can enjoy on their own.
All of them are exciting and easy to try once you learn the simple rules.
Even games that might look difficult at first—like rock-paper-scissors relays or ball bowling—can be done while seated, so no worries.
We hope you’ll all give them a try so that recreation can help invigorate the minds and bodies of older adults.
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Exciting! Ball-Based Recreation
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Be a Hit! Popular Day Service Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Introducing Recreational Activities Anyone Can Enjoy at Geriatric Health Facilities!
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Easy to Try: Lively Recreations (41–50)
Stacking paper cups
Here’s a cup-stacking game that boosts finger strength and concentration.
Get some paper cups and clothespins ready and have fun.
Use the clothespins to stack the paper cups.
Whoever stacks five cups before their opponent wins.
The key is the grip strength you use to open and close the clothespins while stacking.
Once you get used to it, try setting a time limit or playing in teams for an extra challenge.
It’s a game you can enjoy over and over, so give it a try!
Prefecture Bingo
It’s a game like bingo where you keep a sheet with prefecture names in a grid and aim to complete lines.
You can play with pre-made sheets, but having participants write the prefectures themselves could make it more fun as they recall them.
Which prefectures come up is a matter of luck, but predicting what might appear next can make it even more exciting.
Because it’s simple, there’s plenty of room to customize—for example, you can have people share memories related to each prefecture.
Miyakumiyaku exercises with a towel
Improve your circulation! Here are some exercise ideas using a towel inspired by Myaku-Myaku.
Do you know the character Myaku-Myaku? It’s the official mascot created as the symbol of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Its distinctive shape and vivid red and blue colors are quite striking.
This time, playing on the name “Myaku-Myaku,” let’s try some exercises to get your blood flowing “myaku-myaku” (steadily).
All you need to prepare are two face towels.
Longer ones are preferable.
Towel Sumo Game
Recommended for events and recreational activities! Here’s an idea for a towel sumo game.
It’s great if you can train your legs and lower back while having fun at events and rec time.
This time, let’s try a sumo game using towels! You’ll need chairs and two face towels.
Sit facing each other on chairs.
Tuck one end of the towel under your opponent’s foot, and hold the other end in your hand.
Coordinating the two actions—bracing with your legs and pulling the towel with your hand—can be a bit challenging, but it makes for an exciting activity!
Juggling and catching beanbags with your feet
Balancing is tricky! Here’s an idea for tossing and catching beanbags with your feet.
It’s a unique and fun activity that works not only for events and recreation but also as part of daily activities.
All you need to prepare are beanbags.
Sit facing each other and place a beanbag on the top of your foot.
On the cue “Ready, go!” lift your legs up sharply and pass the beanbag with your feet to the person sitting across from you.
The other person’s goal is to catch the beanbag as it comes flying toward them.
Roll the ball game
The Roll-the-Ball Game is a simple, tabletop recreation you can enjoy easily.
You place a frame on the desk, put a ball inside it, and pull the ball using a string.
It’s played one-on-one, and because you can do it while seated, it’s easy on the body.
As you pull the ball, you wind the string around and around, which can help develop fine motor skills.
It’s also a bit thrilling, since you’re disqualified if the ball leaves the frame.
The key is to pull the ball without letting it slip out of the frame.
Thinking about how to pull the ball effectively can also help improve both mental and physical functions.
rod soccer
“Bō Soccer” is a soccer game played with sticks that you can enjoy while seated.
There’s even a Japan Stick Soccer Association, and it’s loved as a sport that can be enjoyed by older adults and people with disabilities.
Players sit in a single row of chairs facing each other and split into two teams.
There are goals on both sides, so try to score into the opposing team’s goal while defending your own—those positioned in front of your team’s goal should block shots and prevent the other side from scoring.
Like regular soccer, one team can have 11 players, though around 10 players per team is generally easy to play with.
