[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: Fun brain-training ideas (41–50)
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!
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.
The Apple Song
“Ringo no Uta” (The Apple Song) is a piece performed by Michiko Namiki, released in 1945.
Amid the defeat, her bright and refreshing voice gave people courage, and it became the biggest hit song of the postwar era.
In 2007, it was also selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Songs.
Many older adults may feel that this song gave them energy.
Let’s enjoy it as a hand-play song while reminiscing about memories from that time.
The motion of bringing your elbow and knee together involves twisting the body, which seems likely to activate muscles you don’t usually use.
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.
Song Exercise
This song exercise features only songs recommended for winter.
Snow, Campfire, and North Wind Boy Kantarō—aren’t they all nostalgic tunes you heard as a child? Here we introduce a Goo-Choki-Paa exercise you can do while singing these popular children’s songs.
It can be done seated, so it’s reassuring from a safety standpoint for older adults.
Since many movements involve using both the upper and lower body, it helps strengthen you both physically and mentally.
You can also express actions like opening and closing your hands with your fingertips, which should provide good stimulation for the brain.
Finger exercises with kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
Finger Exercises with Kayōkyoku is a wonderful activity that boosts hand and finger flexibility while having fun.
By moving your fingers to the rhythm of nostalgic kayōkyoku tunes, you can increase the range of motion in your hands and fingers.
The tempo is fast, so it may feel a bit difficult at first.
However, with repeated practice, you should gradually get used to it.
Using your fingertips also stimulates the brain, which can help prevent cognitive decline.
Doing it together with people around you can deepen communication as you enjoy it.
By all means, give it a try together and have fun!
Rock, paper, scissors in a cross
Crossed Rock-Paper-Scissors is a calisthenic exercise done with your hands crossed.
Instead of just doing rock-paper-scissors normally, you cross your hands, so it’s a workout for your brain, too.
It can be hard to do it perfectly on the first try.
By repeating it, your body will learn the movements.
There are also variations like tapping your feet while doing rock-paper-scissors, or adding hand claps, so give them a try.
They all require mental focus, so it feels like your brain gets a full workout.