Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training

Brain training with Rock-Paper-Scissors on Mito Komon

[Dementia Prevention • Hand Exercises] Brain Training with Rock-Paper-Scissors to the Tune of Mito Kōmon!

Many older adults have probably watched the drama Mito Kōmon at least once, don’t you think? It’s about Mito Kōmon traveling around Japan, and the show’s theme song is famous too.

Using the theme song “Aa Jinsei ni Namida Ari,” let’s do a finger-play activity with the rock-paper-scissors motions.

Clap your hands, make a fist (rock) with one hand and pull it toward yourself, while making a hand (paper) with the other and extend it forward.

Another pattern is: clap your hands, make a fist (rock) with one hand and extend it forward, then use scissors to pull it back.

It might be easier for older adults to participate if it’s a song they already know.

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Brain-training hand game drawing different shapes with each hand

[If you can do it, that’s amazing] Please put out your right hand.

In everyday life, we rarely make different movements with our left and right sides.

So when we do, the unfamiliar motions stimulate the brain and help activate it.

This time, try making a right triangle with the fingers of your right hand, and move the fingers of your left hand up and down.

It’s a simple motion, but surprisingly challenging.

Your right and left fingers might end up doing the same thing.

Still, by thinking through the movements, you activate your brain.

When you’re doing something you’re used to, the brain supposedly doesn’t get activated.

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balance bar

[Indoor Solo Recreation for Seniors] Balance Bar using toilet paper rolls and a uchiwa (Japanese fan)

Have you ever played by balancing a broom on your palm when you were a student? You probably tried to keep it from falling by maintaining its balance.

In fact, balancing something on your palm is said to be effective brain training.

It helps develop your ability to predict the movement of the object and respond appropriately by moving to maintain balance.

Here’s a safer and easier method using a toilet paper roll and a uchiwa (hand fan).

The steps are simple: stand the toilet paper roll upright on the fan and carry it to a target location without letting it fall.

It can be turned into a tabletop game, and since the rules aren’t complicated, many older adults might be willing to give it a try.

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Clothespin scooping

[Indoor Recreation for Seniors (Day Service & Nursing Home)] “Clothespin Scooping” using clothespins, a paper fan, and paper cups

Let’s try a goldfish-scooping style game you see at fairs, using a fan (uchiwa) and clothespins.

Place clothespins on a table, prepare a paper cup or basket, and use the fan to scoop and drop the clothespins into the container.

It looks simple, but it seems to take some skill to scoop the clothespins with a fan.

Since you use your hands, it can also serve as a bit of training.

You can focus and play alone, or play head-to-head with two people and compete for the fastest time to scoop up all the clothespins.

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Paper Cup Sumo

Aim for yokozuna! We tried the flapping paper-cup sumo game (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

There’s a game called paper sumo, where you play with paper wrestlers.

Some older adults may have played it at least once.

Using paper cups and a fan, you can try a different version.

Divide the tabletop in half to set territories, and place paper cups as the wrestlers.

The wrestlers move using the force of air when you flap the fan.

Since it’s sumo, if a wrestler falls off the tabletop ring, they lose.

Flapping the fan back and forth will surely liven up the recreation.

It’s a game where you can almost hear the chant, “Nokotta, nokotta!”

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Proverb Match

[Senior Recreation] Card Game: Proverb Matching!

Let me introduce a proverb matching game that stimulates your vocabulary while having fun.

First, prepare 20–30 proverbs and write the first half and second half on separate cards.

Lay the cards out randomly on a table and look for pairs that form complete proverbs by matching the first halves with the second halves.

Because it uses familiar Japanese proverbs, it encourages you to revisit your memory, rediscover culture and general knowledge, and activate cognitive functions.

The sense of achievement when you find the correct pair can also boost self-esteem! It will be even more exciting if you split into teams or pairs and work together.

Please give it a try.

Momotaro Card Game

A Momotaro card game that anyone can easily enjoy while stimulating the brain!

Let me introduce a Momotaro-themed card game based on the Japanese folktale “Momotaro.” Prepare a total of 63 cards: nine each of Momotaro, Monkey, Pheasant, Dog, Red Ogre, Blue Ogre, and Green Ogre.

Place all cards face down, and each player draws three cards to start.

The rule is that the first person to complete one of the following three patterns wins: three of the same picture; the trio of Dog, Monkey, and Pheasant; or three ogres of different colors.

On your turn, return one of your cards face down to the table and draw a different card, working toward completing your chosen set.

The charm of this game is in devising strategies for which set to complete and remembering where others have returned their cards—you’ll have your brain running at full power while having fun! Give it a try!