[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.
- [For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games
- [For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [Elderly Day Service] Let’s all have fun! Games and recreational activities
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] Recreations to Experience in August
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- [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
Spring Recreation (31–40)
Whac-A-Mole game
Even moles that usually live underground pop their heads out in spring.
When you think of spring, some people might even say “moles,” right? How about a game of Whac-A-Mole as a recreation activity to enjoy in March? It’s easy to make your own Whac-A-Mole using paper cups and disposable chopsticks.
Let’s draw moles on the paper cups.
If older adults each draw their favorite face, you’ll end up with a lot of unique, characterful moles! Make the hammer by fixing a disposable chopstick to a paper cup.
When the countdown starts, try whacking the moles with your hammer! It’s bound to turn into an exciting and fun showdown!
Northern Country Spring Exercises
We would like to introduce an exercise set to the classic song “Kitaguni no Haru,” which most older adults are likely familiar with.
March in place during the intro, then raise and lower your hands, do open-and-close (grip-and-release) movements, and tap your hands, shoulders, and knees.
There are also twisting motions for the neck and torso, so be careful not to overexert yourself.
It’s a good idea to review the movements beforehand if it’s your first time.
When doing this as a recreation activity at a senior facility, giving prompts such as “Next is marching in place,” each time will make it more enjoyable.
Exercise to the song ‘Spring Has Come’
The familiar children’s song “Spring Has Come.” This time, we’ll introduce a brain-training exercise you can do while singing this song.
First, let’s review the movement performed over four beats.
After taking three steps in place, on the fourth beat, clap your hands and lift your thigh.
That’s all.
This may seem simple on its own, but doing it while singing the nursery rhyme will likely change your impression.
Moving your body, recalling the lyrics, and singing—these separate actions provide stimulation to the brain and are said to help prevent cognitive decline.
It can be done anywhere and with any number of participants, so it’s also recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.
Let’s make flowers bloom on a withered tree.
When the warm spring arrives, the cherry blossoms come into full bloom, but in March many regions are still just beginning to bloom, aren’t they? How about enjoying an early cherry blossom viewing as a recreation activity at a senior facility? This game is called “Let’s Make Flowers Bloom on the Withered Tree.” As the name suggests, you toss cherry blossom flowers onto objects that resemble tree branches to make them look fully bloomed! If the flowers land on paper plates placed at the tips of the branches—with points written on them—you earn those points.
This game can be enjoyed while seated, making it appealing because everyone can participate together.
Please enjoy a full bloom of cherry blossoms with this game!
Sakura Quiz
When it comes to flowers that symbolize spring, cherry blossoms are the first that come to mind—their beauty evokes a sense of Japanese tradition.
This content invites you to take on a quiz about cherry blossoms, which are strongly associated with the image of spring in Japan, to deepen your interest in the season even further.
In Japan, cherry blossoms are used as motifs in many places, so a wide range of quiz genres seems possible.
By deepening your knowledge about cherry blossoms, you’ll also feel more inspired to go outside and see them in bloom.
Spring Recreation (41–50)
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the beanbag toss often played at school sports days, is a real crowd-pleaser.
Try adjusting it so that older adults can enjoy it too.
Have the participants sit on chairs and form a circle with a basket placed in the center.
They’ll aim for the basket and toss in beanbags or balls.
Splitting into two teams for a head-to-head match will make it even more exciting.
You can also enjoy a variation where several baskets are placed on a table and players throw balls into them—great for solo play as well.
If you attach papers with point values to the baskets, it adds a fun, game-like element.
Tea Picking Game
Spring is tea-picking season, and by mid-April some places may already be harvesting the first flush.
Here’s a tea-picking game that lets you feel the arrival of spring.
Put paper-folded tea leaves into a box and have older adults pick them out.
Use clothespins to pinch the tea leaves.
Using clothespins helps improve finger sensitivity and stimulates the brain.
It’s said that fingertip strength declines with age.
By using clothespins, the fingers get exercised, which can help with everyday activities.
It’s also nice to play the tea-picking game with the song “Chatsumi” playing in the background.
Summer Recreation (41–50)
Introducing fun recreational activities recommended for summer
Summer is a season when we often feel hot and sweaty. When you think of summer, fireworks, the ocean, and shaved ice come to mind. However, it’s said that as we age, it becomes harder to sense the seasons. So, let’s help people feel summer through recreational activities held at the facility. While the heat can be a concern in summer, we’ve gathered indoor activities such as seated games and making crafts with summery themes. We also recommend outdoor recreation so that older adults who don’t usually get out much can enjoy themselves too! Recreation is extremely helpful for encouraging interaction and communication with others. We hope you have a fun time while feeling the spirit of summer. Related articles:[For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced