[For Seniors] Recommended! Seasonal Recreational Activities
The recreational activities offered at facilities have various benefits, including invigorating the mind, body, and brain, and improving quality of life.
Because they often involve interacting with others, they also naturally encourage communication.
By incorporating a sense of the seasons into recreation, older adults can lead even more fulfilling daily lives.
So this time, we’re introducing seasonal-themed recreational activities.
For older adults who may find it difficult to sense the passage of time, seasonal recreation can help them become more aware of time.
It also allows those who have trouble going out to feel the seasons, providing positive stimulation to break up the monotony of spending most days indoors.
We hope this helps make each day more enjoyable.
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- [For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
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- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
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- [For Seniors] Fun! Games and Ideas to Boost Memory
- Recommended recreational activities to help seniors enjoy their time in care facilities
- For Seniors: Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy in April
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
Autumn Recreation (1–10)
Halloween ball toss game
Participants form a circle and pass a balloon around while trying to get it into the Halloween tower in the center.
Be careful not to drop the balloon—watch the timing and aim for the tower.
When a balloon goes into the tower, flip over one panel on the whiteboard and try to guess the hidden word.
If you think you know the answer, raise your hand and check it.
If the answer is wrong, put the balloon into the tower again, flip another panel, and gather more clues.
Target shooting game with an air cannon
This is a game where you use a tube that shoots bursts of air to knock down Halloween-themed targets.
The air cannon is made by punching a hole in a candy container and attaching a cut balloon, using the balloon to propel the air.
How you design the targets is also important—adjust their weight and the base they sit on to enhance the gameplay.
It’s also essential to focus on decorating the air cannon and the targets to create a strong Halloween atmosphere.
Let’s grill some pacific saury!
This is a game that tests balance and fine motor skills, themed around sanma (Pacific saury), a classic autumn delicacy.
Inspired by the scene of grilling sanma on a mesh grate, players place paper sanma mascots onto a mesh set on top of paper cups.
Using chopsticks to place the fish on the mesh requires precise hand movements, and balancing where each fish goes is crucial.
To add excitement, you might also have players attempt it within a time limit to deliberately make them feel rushed.
Moon-viewing game
Many people probably think that otsukimi is about enjoying the full moon in autumn.
However, strictly speaking, the fifteenth night isn’t always a full moon.
That’s because it’s based on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month in the old lunar calendar.
Just a little tidbit about moon viewing.
Enjoying a game themed around otsukimi also feels wonderfully autumnal.
You could play a game where you roll dumplings into perfect spheres, hold a contest for stylishly arranging pampas grass, or have everyone fold rabbit origami—there are plenty of fun ideas.
Pet bottle bowling could be a hit too, with the bowling ball as the moon and the pins standing in for pampas grass!
Chestnuts from the fire game
When it comes to autumn delicacies, chestnuts are one of the classics, and just the sight of picking chestnuts from among fallen leaves evokes the season, doesn’t it? This is a game everyone can enjoy, themed around that very situation of brushing aside leaves to find chestnuts.
Line a cardboard box with crumpled newspaper, place capsules inside to represent chestnuts, and use tongs to search for them.
Since you use only the hand holding the tongs to move the newspaper aside, smooth wrist movements are key.
Also, inside the chestnut capsules are notes that change the point values, adding an element of strategy to the fun.
Autumn Picture Postcard
This is about drawing autumn scenery on postcard-sized paper to enjoy a little taste of fall.
The materials you use will change the mood of the finished piece, so be intentional about that choice.
It’s also important to decide which scene to choose and what part of it to crop; using photos as references to plan your composition is recommended.
Another fun point is that there are many aspects you can fuss over—whether to stick to just the illustration or add text to enhance the atmosphere, for example.
Singing Brain-Training Exercise
This is an exercise routine that aims for fun and health by moving your body to songs, with autumn-themed music to help you feel the season.
We’ll start with warm-ups to loosen the whole body so it can move well later.
Moving your body while singing contributes to overall health, so easy-to-sing children’s songs are recommended; we’ll immerse ourselves in the world of the lyrics through movements that match them.
Rather than only following the suggested motions, it could also be interesting for each person to think about what kinds of movements they can come up with.