[For Seniors] Popular Hand-Play Songs: Fun Brain-Training Ideas
To increase opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, many older adults visit facilities such as day-service centers.
However, there may be many who find it difficult to start conversations on their own and end up sitting by themselves.
In this article, we introduce simple hand-play songs that can be done while seated! If it’s a tune they’ve heard before, they can join in with enjoyment, which can also help spark interaction with other participants.
In addition, raising the arms and moving the fingers serves as brain training and is important for preventing cognitive decline.
Please try these as fun recreational activities!
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For seniors: Popular hand-play songs. Introducing ideas for enjoyable brain training (21–30)
Brain training with rock-paper-scissors
This version of the Rock-Paper-Scissors exercise incorporates brain training elements.
It’s recommended for those who want to try a twist on the usual recreational activities.
Examples include exercises where you alternate hands while making rock, scissors, and paper, or doing rock-paper-scissors with one hand while the other hand keeps count.
All of them are challenging tasks that require full brain engagement.
It might be tough at first, but if you do them every day, your body will naturally remember.
Using your fingertips provides good stimulation for the brain and can help support both mental and physical health.
Finger exercise with rock-paper-scissors (gu-choki-pa)
The Rock-Paper-Scissors exercise is highly recommended for preventing dementia in older adults.
Finger exercises are something we do casually, but many people may not realize that they’re directly connected to the brain.
By moving your fingertips a lot, you can stimulate and activate the brain.
The Rock-Paper-Scissors routine introduced here includes plenty of fun variations, so it’s likely to get some laughs too.
Exercising while having fun is great for building a healthy body.
Let’s laugh from the belly and aim to relieve stress.
[For Seniors] Popular finger-play songs: Introducing ideas for fun brain training (31–40)
A-I-U-Be mouth exercise to the rhythm
This is the “A-I-U-BE” exercise performed to a rhythm.
Let’s add singing while doing the A-I-U-BE exercises.
With an upbeat melody, older adults will feel cheerful and more willing to give the exercises a try.
If the lyrics describe how to open the mouth, it also helps older adults move their mouths smoothly.
Many senior facilities incorporate A-I-U-BE exercises as training for the mouth and tongue.
Singing is also recommended for preventing aspiration, as it helps strengthen the throat and abdominal muscles.
It also promotes saliva secretion, which helps maintain a healthy oral environment.
Give it a try while having fun!
Clap Hands Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise
Exercises with hand clapping make it easier to keep rhythm and are recommended for older adults.
One exercise involves randomly making rock-paper-scissors shapes with both hands while layering in hand claps; it provides good stimulation for the brain and supports the physical and mental health of seniors.
Because all the fingers are used, it seems like each nerve can be trained.
It’s delightful that, with a bit of creativity, rock-paper-scissors can lead to such a variety of finger exercises.
Moving with the rhythm of clapping is likely to invigorate both body and mind.
Rock, paper, scissors
“Guu Choki Paa” is a children’s hand-play song that is still loved by many today.
It’s a nursery rhyme based on a French folk song.
It’s fun because you can use your hands to represent all sorts of things—from cats and crabs to helicopters.
And since you can freely come up with what to make, you can keep creating new ideas.
It’s also helpful for invigorating the mind and body of older adults.
By expanding the repertoire, it’s a hand-play song you can enjoy over and over without getting bored.
Brain-training game you play while singing
The “Sing-and-Train Your Brain” game is a wonderful recreation activity that helps older adults stimulate their brains while having fun.
Moving the hands to the rhythm energizes both body and mind.
The simple, easy-to-remember lyrics are familiar and approachable for seniors, and singing together naturally deepens communication.
It’s perfect for recreation in day-care services and other senior facilities.
It can be enjoyed while seated, so even those who find physical activity challenging can participate with confidence.
With its nostalgic tune, you can have a great time while reminiscing about the past.
snail
When we think of the rainy season, we remember the song “Katatsumuri,” don’t we? It’s a Japanese children’s song included in the 1911 “Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka” for first grade.
Snails have long been called “kagyū” and are also affectionately known as “denden mushi.” Perhaps rain is a blessing for snails.
Let’s sing this perfect-for-the-rainy-season song together with seniors as a hand-play song.
Since the snail’s horns and face are expressed with hand motions, it’s sure to bring smiles to their faces.