[For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
As we get older, we tend to have fewer opportunities to be physically active.
Even in senior facilities like day services, people may end up sitting for long periods during activities like crafts.
Why not try incorporating some lively, movement-based games?
Of course, it’s fine to stay seated!
Even without strenuous movements, simply rolling your arms or marching your feet a little can loosen the body and make for good exercise.
Please be sure not to overdo it—have fun while keeping an eye on how you feel!
There are plenty of games that get everyone moving and energized.
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- Recommended Indoor Exercises for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Recommended Dances You Can Move To and Enjoy
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
[For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Movement-Based Games (41–50)
Simple Darts
Simple Darts is a fun game idea you can make using a small whiteboard and magnets.
Draw a large circle on the whiteboard with a smaller circle in the center.
Divide the large circle into eight sections and assign points to each one.
The center circle should be the highest score: 100 points.
Wrap the magnets in any fabric you like.
The rules are simple: throw the magnets at the whiteboard and compete based on the score where they stick.
It’s sure to be exciting as either an individual or team game.
You can easily prepare it since whiteboards and magnets are available at 100-yen shops.
[For Seniors] Mood Refresh! Energetic, Movement-Based Games (51–60)
Bottle knocking game
All you need is a plastic bottle and a uchiwa fan to enjoy this simple game: Plastic Bottle Knockdown.
First, thread a rubber band or string through the fan and secure it so you can quickly retrieve it after throwing.
It’s a seated game, making it easy to tailor to older adults’ physical and mental conditions.
Since the bottles are empty, they’re easy to knock over, so anyone can have fun.
Compete to see who can knock down the most bottles, and consider preparing a prize for the top scorer.
Let’s enjoy it together!
Use your wrist and beckon, ‘Come here, come here, little snail!’
Let’s wind the string and reel the snail in! Here’s an idea where you use your wrist to beckon the snail to come closer.
It’s a great suggestion for anyone looking for a wrist-focused game.
Draw a picture of a snail on an empty box, and place an empty plastic bottle inside the box.
Connect the box and a plastic wrap core with string, and reel the string in to pull the snail toward you—it’s a unique game.
The key is to control it so you don’t knock over the plastic bottle!
Rolling beach ball
It’s a game where you skillfully control a string connected to the chair opposite you to move a beach ball resting on it.
Your ability to judge how moving the string in your hands affects the ball’s motion is put to the test.
You move the ball by changing angles and widening the span, while simultaneously being careful not to let the string slack—this dual task helps stimulate the brain.
The longer the string, the harder it is to control, so once you get used to it, we recommend gradually trying longer setups.
Recreation using a whiteboard and rubber balls
It’s a recreation activity where you change the angle of a whiteboard to make it like a platform and roll balls across it.
Since you throw the ball onto the board while seated, there are moments when the ball disappears from your line of sight, which adds to the difficulty.
You need to anticipate how the ball will roll and, if you feel it will come your way, get into a catching posture—it’s a test of concentration.
If you increase the number of balls, they may collide on the board and change trajectories, which strengthens concentration even more.
Recreation using a ball and paper cups
This is a recreation activity that tests strength and concentration: while seated in a chair, you bounce a ball at your feet and then catch it.
First, have participants get used to the ball’s movement and how much force to use by bouncing it at their own feet and catching it with one hand.
Next, pair up.
One person bounces the ball toward their partner, and the person receiving it tries to catch it with a paper cup.
Since everyone applies force differently, judging how the ball will bounce becomes crucial—another point that boosts concentration.
Pitching recreation using numbers and balls
This is a recreational activity where everyone sits in chairs in rows and uses ball-passing to engage both body and mind.
First, sit facing each other in two lines and start by throwing the ball to the person diagonally across.
Then gradually add thinking elements by increasing the number of balls, counting passes, and introducing additional rules.
Because you have to think about where to throw the ball while also paying attention to the count, it really stimulates the brain.
It’s recommended to begin slowly to check the movements, and then increase the speed once everyone gets used to it.