[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.
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- [For Seniors] Liven Things Up With Different Left-Right Movements! Game and Exercise Ideas
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[For Seniors] Collection of Hand and Finger Games: Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (21–30)
rainy weather
This is a finger exercise themed on the children’s song “Amefuri” (Rainfall), beloved by people of all ages.
The famous lyrics written by Hakushu Kitahara are well known to many older adults, too.
With your arms held out in front, repeatedly close and open both hands.
Next, match the lyrics and focus on hand movements that evoke a janome (bull’s-eye) umbrella.
Finally, make rock–scissors–paper shapes and alternately shake your hands.
It’s divided into three main parts, so learn them in order and try performing them along with the song.
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.
Hand therapy exercises
This is about moving your fingers with firm, deliberate effort so you can monitor the motion and gradually improve function.
It’s important to be mindful of performing both gripping and finger-opening movements evenly; the closer you get to evenness, the smoother your hand movements will be in daily life.
Putting strength into the movements is also a key point, as doing so not only improves finger function but also promotes circulation and activates the brain.
It’s also recommended to use this to identify any movements that aren’t smooth, then focus on improving those areas in particular.
Let’s look up and walk with finger exercises
The song ‘Ue o Muite Arukou’ is a famous classic by Kyu Sakamoto.
It remains a beloved piece even today.
The familiar melody is wonderful, and the uplifting lyrics are lovely too.
This time, let’s do the Goo-Choki-Pa exercise while singing this song.
It’s an exercise where you have fun making rock-paper-scissors shapes with your left and right hands.
Doing it to such a soothing tune feels calming, doesn’t it? The tempo is relaxed, so it should be easy for older adults to keep the rhythm.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise
This Goo-Choki-Paa exercise is a workout performed while speaking out loud.
Vocalizing provides good stimulation for the brain, so it’s recommended.
Even a small voice is fine—the key is to add the Goo-Choki-Paa hand movements as you go.
Exercises that change the movement on each side are also effective for activating the brain.
These can be easy to get wrong, so it may be difficult to do them correctly right away.
However, making mistakes is important too, and it can be a great opportunity to spark communication with those around you.
Staff should actively speak to participants while doing the exercises.
Goo Choki Paa-ty (Rock-Paper-Scissors Party)
Shall we all try dancing the “Goo-Choki-Paa” exercise together—just watching it might lift your spirits! This routine is done standing, but it can also be done seated, so it can be adapted to the physical and mental condition of older adults.
Various animals and creatures appear throughout, and their movements are expressed with the hands and feet.
For example, a fist (goo) can represent a gorilla, and scissors (choki) can represent a crab—there are so many ways to communicate using just your hands.
Don’t forget to take a deep breath at the end to refresh your body and mind.
Close It, Open It
Musunde Hiraite is famous as a children’s song.
Many seniors may remember playing it as a hand-clapping game when they were children.
The lyricist is unknown, and the composer is the French philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
The lyrics are charming, and even today it is often used for performances at kindergartens and nursery schools.
It’s also recommended as a hand game for senior recreation.
Since the motions—opening and closing the hands—are simple, seniors can learn it quickly.
It also helps train the fingertips, which can stimulate the brain.