[For Seniors] Extremely Effective Brain Training! A Fun Collection of Hand Games
As a form of recreation for older adults, many facilities incorporate hand games that involve moving the fingers and arms.
It’s said that making fine movements with the fingertips or performing different motions with the right and left arms helps activate the brain.
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of hand games that also serve as brain training.
These hand games range widely—from activities that only move the fingertips to ones that use the arms, and even the upper body and legs.
Please choose activities that match participants’ physical condition.
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For Seniors: Highly Effective Brain Training! A Fun Collection of Hand Games (21–30)
Paper cup: Don’t take the last one game
Let me introduce a fun game you can play with paper cups.
The rules are simple: place several paper cups on a table, and on your turn you may take up to three cups.
You can take one, two, or three cups.
The player who takes the very last cup on the table loses.
As the game nears the end, you’ll start carefully considering how many cups to take.
Who will be the one to pick up that final cup? It’s a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat paper cup game.
Paper cups are light, so you can hold them with one hand.
It’s a game that people with hemiparesis might also enjoy.
Under the big chestnut tree
“Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree” is a children’s song based on an English folk tune.
It is said to have been sung among Boy Scouts in the United States.
It was introduced to Japan after World War II.
On the NHK TV program “Uta no Ojisan,” Masanori Tomotake sang it with accompanying actions, which led to its popularity as a hand-play song.
Because the movements are simple, older adults can learn it quickly.
It’s a charming hand-play song that uses the hands to represent a big chestnut.
Enjoy it with a childlike spirit, as if you’ve gone back to your childhood.
[For Seniors] Highly Effective for Brain Training! A Fun Collection of Hand Games (31–40)
Hometown: A song-and-exercise routine that livens things up with three movements
Move your hands to the melody of the children’s song “Furusato,” and stimulate your brain not only through the hand movements but also by visualizing your hometown.
The flow is two claps followed by forming a number with your hands, thinking ahead to the next number while keeping the rhythm of the song in mind.
After making a 5 with both hands, the count returns to 1, so this is where you should focus carefully and aim for smoother movements.
Once you get used to it, we also recommend increasing the speed to further improve concentration.
A balance game using toilet paper rolls
Introducing a thrilling and laughter-filled recreation activity for seniors: the Toilet Paper Roll Balance Game.
First, randomly place toilet paper cores on a table and stack thick paper or cardboard on top to build a tower.
That’s when the real challenge begins! Take turns gently removing one roll at a time without toppling the rest.
Much like Jenga, it helps train fingertip control, decision-making, and concentration.
The rules are simple: whoever causes the collapse loses, so anyone can jump in right away.
It’s easy to prepare with everyday materials.
This safe, exciting game is perfect for homes and care facilities, letting participants enjoy it comfortably without overexertion.
Balance game with clothespins
We’d like to introduce a senior-friendly game you can enjoy with everyday materials: the Clothespin Balance Game.
First, stand an empty toilet paper roll upright on a table, then clip clothespins onto it one by one.
The rules are simple: compete to see how many clothespins you can attach without making anything fall.
You can build upward to make it taller, or spread outward like branches.
With a bit of creativity, you can even make interesting, sculpture-like shapes—that’s part of the appeal.
Because it requires careful finger control and concentration, it’s a fun way to train fine motor skills.
It’s a recommended activity that gets everyone excited, whether played individually or in a group.
Balance game with paper cups and a ball
Introducing a unique balance game for seniors that uses paper cups and a ball: “Balance Game with Paper Cups and a Ball.” Stack paper cups into a pyramid and place a ping-pong ball or similar ball on the topmost cup to begin.
Carefully move the cups one by one, stacking each onto the cup below while making sure the ball doesn’t fall.
With movements similar to sport stacking, you clear the game once you’ve finished nesting all the paper cups into one stack! It’s a fun way to train concentration, finger dexterity, and sense of balance.
Since it can be played while seated, even those who aren’t confident in their physical stamina can participate with peace of mind.
It’s a recreational activity full of thrilling, heart-pounding moments.
Finger exercises with plastic bottle caps
Here’s a recreational activity you can make using the many plastic bottle caps that tend to pile up.
Place the caps on a base sheet, matching each cap with the same kanji written on the sheet, making sure not to make mistakes.
Kanji sets that are hard to distinguish—like the fish or tree radicals series—are recommended.
Because players identify the characters while pinching the caps with their fingers, it trains both the brain and fine motor skills.
Give it a try—make it and play with it! You could also turn it into a game by pairing addition problems with their answers.
