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

Momotaro

Simple Singing Exercise for Seniors [Brain Training & Singing Recreation]: Open-and-Close Hand Movements (Gu-Pa) While Singing 'Momotaro'

We’d like to introduce a hand-play activity idea called “Momotaro” that uses time for singing, moving your body, and sharing joyful laughter.

All you do is move your hands to a nostalgic melody, so it’s easy to join in even while seated and is popular with older adults.

For those who find it hard to speak, the song can help soften their expressions naturally and become a starting point for conversation.

Alternating open-and-close motions of the left and right hands while singing stimulates the brain and is expected to help prevent cognitive decline.

It can be enjoyed by small groups or entire groups together and is used as a place for social interaction.

It’s a simple yet profound idea that lets you rediscover the power of hand-play activities.

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kojifumi

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The railroad tracks go on forever.

Fingerplay song: The Railroad Goes On Forever

Here’s an idea for a fun hand-play song that lets you move your body to the rhythm: “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” (Senro wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo).

Face your partner, press your palms together, and alternate clapping, adding movements up, down, left, and right to keep it from becoming monotonous while building concentration and reflexes.

Changing the tempo—speeding it up or slowing it down—adds variety so it stays engaging.

Since it only uses hand and arm movements, participants can join in while seated.

Facing each other also naturally encourages smiles and conversation, making it a great activity for social interaction.

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kojifumi

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The Itomaki (Spool Winding) Song Using Rubber Bands

The Itomaki Song using rubber bands [An exercise activity for seniors!]

This exercise aims to make finger movements smoother by stretching a rubber band with both hands and moving it from finger to finger.

Maintaining strength is important to keep the band well stretched, so sustaining effort while moving adds complexity that also helps stimulate the brain.

If you coordinate the movement of shifting the rubber band with a song—such as the children’s song “Ito Maki”—and proceed rhythmically, it will further improve smoothness.

We also recommend starting with patterns that move the band to the same finger on both hands, then gradually shifting the positions to make the patterns more complex over time.

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kappamaki

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Wobbly Beanbag Game

Wobbly Beanbag Game! Train Your Concentration [Senior Recreation]

Create it by arranging everyday materials! Here are ideas for a wobbly beanbag game.

What you’ll use: beanbags, a plastic tray, and an empty plastic wrap core.

The great thing is you don’t need to buy special materials, so it’s easy to try! To set up, stand the wrap core upright on a table and place the plastic tray with the beanbags on top.

That’s it! Participants then take turns removing beanbags from the tray.

The unstable wrap core wobbles, adding a thrilling challenge!

The 24 solar terms

Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Origins and How to Remember Them!

In the traditional calendar that divides the year into the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, there are the 24 solar terms, including the spring equinox, summer solstice, and autumn equinox.

The winter solstice—when people customarily eat pumpkin and red beans—is also one of these 24 solar terms.

Furthermore, each of the four seasons is subdivided into six parts.

Even today, this calendar remains indispensable for agricultural work.

So, let’s try a 24 solar terms puzzle.

Place bottle caps labeled with the 24 solar terms onto a sheet that also lists them.

Try getting creative with the sheet by arranging it in a circle with the sun at the center, or by dividing it with colors that evoke spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

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Nakajima Junko

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A jigsaw puzzle on a cup noodle lid

[Engaging Simple Indoor Recreation Ideas for Seniors] A “7-Piece Handmade Jigsaw Puzzle Game” Using Cup Noodle Lids Cut with Scissors

Exciting! Here’s an idea for a jigsaw puzzle using instant cup noodle lids.

The designs on cup noodles vary a lot from product to product, right? This is a DIY puzzle that lets you enjoy those differences.

You’ll need seven cup noodle lids, scissors, a ruler, a pen, and so on.

To make it, simply divide each lid into four pieces.

It’s simple, but when you try playing, it’s surprisingly challenging and can take time to complete.

Laminating the pieces is also a nice touch.

A puzzle made of cardboard with 3 to 4 layers

Cardboard puzzle (2): 3-layer to 4-layer puzzle, bento lunch, hibernating animals, duck, house, pill bug ❤︎ DIY, Cardboard special puzzle, paper craft ❤︎ #795

Let’s make a bento box! Here’s an idea for a 3–4 layer puzzle made from cardboard.

Most puzzles usually end up being just 1 or 2 layers, right? This time, let’s stack cardboard to create a 3–4 layer puzzle.

You’ll need materials like cardboard, construction paper, glue, a utility knife, and a permanent marker.

It sounds fun to think about what side dishes to put in the bento as you make it.

Try incorporating cute ideas with a touch of humor!