[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)
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!
[For Seniors] Mood Refresh! Energetic, Movement-Based Games (51–60)
Uchiwa Balloon Relay
This is a relay-style game where players move while keeping a balloon bouncing with a handheld fan (uchiwa), go to a target point, and come back.
Competing in teams helps build strong focus on the balloon and good movement speed.
If you skillfully incorporate a forward flick with the fan, you can gain speed, but quick forward movement is also required, so good judgment is key.
If keeping the balloon bouncing while moving is too hard, another recommended rule is to keep the balloon resting on the fan as you go.
By alternating your gaze between the balloon in your hand and the direction of travel, you can also sharpen your visual focus.
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors
It’s sure to be an exciting match! Try the Newspaper Janken challenge! Have two older adults sit facing each other.
Place a long, narrow strip of newspaper on the table, then play rock-paper-scissors.
The winner tries to grab the newspaper, while the loser must hold it down so it can’t be taken.
By the way, if the newspaper tears, you lose.
It’s a brain-engaging activity where you play janken, instantly recognize the outcome, and act immediately.
Recreations that use both mind and body stimulate the brain and can help prevent dementia.
Enjoy a fun time laughing together with other participants.
Tug of war
Let’s try “tug-of-war,” a classic sports day event! That said, a regular tug-of-war can be quite demanding.
In this version, you play while seated in chairs, so it’s safe and there’s no risk of falling.
Use your upper body strength to the fullest, coordinate your chants, and work together as a team!
Bamboo Shoot Digging Game
It’s a game where you use a stick with a paper cup attached to the end to stack and pick up paper cups with bamboo shoots drawn on them, and compete for speed.
The key to successfully picking up the bamboo shoots is to fit the cup on the stick perfectly over the target cup, so your stick control is put to the test.
If you do it well, you can stack multiple cups, so strategy matters—do you carefully stack and grab a bunch at once, or focus on speed and collect them one by one? The longer the stick, the harder it is to control, so adjusting the stick length is also a recommended way to set the difficulty.
Strikeout
Strikeout is a game where you throw a ball at targets labeled with numbers.
In addition to being expected to help with arm exercise, strikeout is also said to strengthen the core.
By training your core, your body’s balance becomes more stable, which can help prevent falls.
It’s a game where you knock down numbered targets, so you can have fun while getting a workout.
Since it’s a lively game that many people can enjoy together, it would be great to include it in an April cherry-blossom viewing recreation.
How about making the targets not with numbers, but with illustrations or photos related to cherry-blossom viewing?
Stomp-and-pop balloon launch
Let’s pop a balloon into the air with a boing! Here’s an idea for a foot-powered balloon-launch game—perfect if you’re looking for a unique activity that uses the feet.
You’ll need items like cardboard, a low platform, a board or mesh, a tray, balloons with weights attached, and a score chart drawn on poster paper.
While seated in a chair, place your feet on the board; using the lever principle, the balloon will launch with a fun “pop!” It’s an easy activity to try and also a good way to move the hip joints.
Give it a go and incorporate it into your sessions!