[For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training
For older adults, moving their hands and fingers is very important because it helps stimulate brain activity.
That’s why many senior care facilities incorporate hand and finger play as a way to help prevent dementia.
Among these activities, brain-training style hand and finger games may seem difficult at first, but they allow participants to talk and think together—saying things like “I did it!” or “How do you do this part?”—so they can enjoy the activity while engaging in communication.
There are exercises that involve different movements with the left and right hands, or moving the fingers while singing.
Please choose and adapt activities according to each older adult’s physical and mental condition.
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Finger Exercises That Help Prevent Dementia
- [For Seniors] Popular Hand-Play Songs: Fun Brain-Training Ideas
- [Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended Hand-Play Recreation for Dementia Prevention
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Extremely Effective Brain Training! A Fun Collection of Hand Games
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Easily! Hand Play 'Shimoshika Meyo' (If If, Tortoise)
- [For Seniors] Recommended Rhythm Play and Exercises
- [For Seniors] Fun and Engaging Brain-Training Recreation
- [For Seniors] DIY Hand Rehabilitation Tools to Strengthen Fingertips: A Collection of Handmade Ideas
- [For Seniors] Liven Things Up With Different Left-Right Movements! Game and Exercise Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended Easy Strength Training
- [For Seniors] Recommended Handmade Activities! Simple Ideas
[For Seniors] Collection of Hand and Finger Games: Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (1–10)
Brain-training hand game with the Frog Song
I think you’ve heard the song “Kaeru no Uta” (The Frog Song).
Using that tune, why not try a fun brain-training exercise? The movement itself is simple: you make a snail by combining a fist and a V-sign.
But whenever the word “kaeru” (frog) appears in the lyrics, you flip your hands upside down.
When you try it, you’ll probably find it surprisingly engaging for your brain.
And if you get tired of the snail, try other movements like a helicopter.
That way, you can avoid getting stuck in a rut.
Finger exercise making a circle with your fingers
Making finger circles is another recommended hand game.
First, make an OK sign with both hands.
Then connect the circle parts together.
Next, switch to your middle fingers, then ring fingers, then pinkies.
If you clap in between and keep a steady rhythm, you can expect strong brain-training benefits.
By the way, you can also change it up—slow down the rhythm or just make the OK sign with one hand.
Start from whatever level feels comfortable for you.
Scissors switch exercise
Let’s try stimulating the brain with hand and finger play.
In this exercise, you make different “scissors” shapes with your left and right hands and then switch the finger positions back and forth.
Start slowly with “index and middle fingers” and “thumb and index finger,” but it’s surprisingly tricky.
Your fingers end up in shapes you didn’t intend, and you can’t help but laugh.
Once you get used to it, speeding up the tempo or doing it to music makes it even better.
It’s a fun way for everyone to get lively brain training together.
[For Seniors] Hand and Finger Play Collection: Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (11–20)
Finger Separation Exercise
It’s an exercise where you press your palms together and gradually lift each finger away while counting numbers.
Because you count out loud as you go, it also serves as brain training while moving your fingers.
The key is to keep the other fingers pressed to your palm, except for the one you’re counting.
Once you reach the little finger, raise your hands back up while counting to 10 again.
You can adjust the speed of the count or practice by counting beyond 10.
Try this fun finger exercise—it’s also great for encouraging communication among residents.
Finger exercise with rock-paper-scissors (gu-choki-pa)
The rock-paper-scissors finger exercise is highly recommended for preventing dementia in older adults.
It may seem like an ordinary finger movement we do without thinking, but many people might not realize that fingers are directly connected to the brain.
By moving your fingertips a lot, you also stimulate and activate the brain.
The rock-paper-scissors exercise we’re introducing this time includes lots of fun variations, so it’s likely to spark some laughter too.
Exercising while having fun is great for building a healthy body.
Let’s laugh from the belly and aim to relieve stress.
tea caddy
By incorporating alternating hand movements, this “tea jar” finger exercise also works as brain training.
Make a fist with your left hand and tap up and down in sequence.
Match the rhythm of the song, and repeat the same motion with your right hand.
As a variation, try tapping from bottom to top.
Imagining the lid of a tea jar as you move your hands will make the exercise more enjoyable.
When the song ends, try to finish with your hands precisely in the correct position.
Inchworm Exercise
How about enjoying the “Inchworm Exercise” along with a children’s song? For this activity, bring the thumbs and index fingers of both hands together, then move them like an inchworm.
When you finish the first verse of the song, try changing the direction you’re ‘traveling.’ You won’t actually be moving, but if you release from the thumbs it looks like you’re going upward, and if you move from the index fingers it looks like you’re heading downward.
A gentle-paced children’s song like “The Tortoise and the Hare” pairs well with this exercise.