Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
Hand-based activities are a fun and effective way for older adults to stimulate the brain.
Even simple hand games can stimulate the brain by moving the fingertips, helping to maintain or improve cognitive function.
In addition, doing them to music or together with others naturally brings more smiles and increases opportunities for communication.
In this article, we introduce hand games that are easy for seniors to enjoy without strain and also work as brain training.
Incorporate easy activities into your routine to maintain your health while having fun!
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[For Seniors] Fun Hand Games That Get Everyone Involved: Also Great for Brain Training (111–120)
Flying Fukuwarai
Some older adults may have played fukuwarai during the New Year holidays.
Fukuwarai is the game where you’re blindfolded and place facial features onto a face, right? Part of the fun is not being able to place the features correctly.
But with “Flying Fukuwarai,” there’s no blindfold.
Instead, you toss large facial feature pieces onto a sheet of paper with a large face drawn on it.
Of course, it still often results in hilariously misplaced features, which makes it exciting.
And because you throw the pieces while looking at the face, it’s said to help train spatial awareness.
Spatial awareness is the ability to perceive positions and shapes within space.
When it declines, people may get lost on familiar routes or bump into things more easily.
Give Flying Fukuwarai a try for a fun brain workout!
[For Seniors] Lively Hand Games That Get Everyone Involved—Also Great for Brain Training (121–130)
Gift-stuffing game
This is a game where players compete to see how many presents they can stuff into their own bag within a time limit, taking them from a table.
When pushing the presents in, they should use force while still being careful not to tear the bag—encouraging awareness of strength control.
To keep players from focusing only on the simple act of stuffing, it’s recommended to make the presents colorful so the visuals are enjoyable too.
If you randomize the sizes and shapes of the presents, you can also add an element of judgment in choosing which ones to put in the bag.
PET bottle cap grab game
Here’s a game that uses PET bottle caps to train finger dexterity.
Pick up PET bottle caps and drop them into paper cups.
However, you’ll use clothespins to pick up the caps.
Handling clothespins requires a certain amount of strength.
Simply using clothespins can also improve fine motor skills by encouraging nimble finger movements.
Let’s not only aim for brain-training benefits through finger use, but also strengthen the fingers and hands.
By making it a game, older adults can enjoy themselves while getting in some training.
Give it a try!
Plastic Bottle Cap Bingo
Here’s a bingo-style game using plastic bottle caps.
Thread two colors of caps onto a rod alternately, and the player who lines up four in a row horizontally wins.
While you build your own winning pattern, you also need to block your opponent, making it a deceptively simple yet surprisingly deep game.
Additionally, the motion of threading the caps each turn exercises the upper limbs and fingertips, making it an enjoyable and high-quality brain-training activity.
Hosting a tournament or league event would likely make it even more exciting.
Paper Core Bowling
Back in the Showa era, there was a time when bowling was hugely popular.
Some older adults may have been into bowling back then.
Let’s rekindle those memories and get our fingers moving with a bowling game.
Use toilet paper rolls as pins, and a lightweight rubber ball that doesn’t feel heavy to knock them down.
Since it can be played on a table, people who have difficulty standing can participate as well.
Keeping score like in real bowling will make it even more exciting.
Ball Wrapping Game
Let me introduce a “ball winding” game where you use your wrists and fingertips to reel the ball in faster than your opponent.
Tie a piece of tape to a basket and stretch it out; wrap the other end of the tape around a stick.
Once you place a ball on top of the basket, you’re ready to go.
At the starting signal, use your hands to twist the stick and pull the basket toward you.
If the ball falls off, you incur a penalty and can’t move, so be careful not to drop it while trying to pull the basket in faster than your opponent.
Because it uses both hands, it can also be used as a fun functional training activity.
Ball fishing game
Let me introduce a game that lets you practice fine motor skills while having fun.
It’s a game where you use a stick to pick up rubber balls.
The tip of the stick is fitted with the sticky side of tape, so the rubber balls attach to it.
It gets even more exciting as a two-player competitive game for older adults.
You’ll grip the stick and move your arms and hands a lot.
The person who picks up more balls than their opponent wins.
It can be played while seated, and with a bit of ingenuity, people who have difficulty moving their bodies freely can also participate.
Please use this as a reference and enjoy a fun time.