[For Seniors] Fun and Engaging Brain-Training Recreation

Brain-training hand game drawing different shapes with each hand

[If you can do it, that’s amazing] Please put out your right hand.

In everyday life, we rarely make different movements with our left and right sides.

So when we do, the unfamiliar motions stimulate the brain and help activate it.

This time, try making a right triangle with the fingers of your right hand, and move the fingers of your left hand up and down.

It’s a simple motion, but surprisingly challenging.

Your right and left fingers might end up doing the same thing.

Still, by thinking through the movements, you activate your brain.

When you’re doing something you’re used to, the brain supposedly doesn’t get activated.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

The 24 solar terms

Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Origins and How to Remember Them!

In the traditional calendar that divides the year into the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, there are the 24 solar terms, including the spring equinox, summer solstice, and autumn equinox.

The winter solstice—when people customarily eat pumpkin and red beans—is also one of these 24 solar terms.

Furthermore, each of the four seasons is subdivided into six parts.

Even today, this calendar remains indispensable for agricultural work.

So, let’s try a 24 solar terms puzzle.

Place bottle caps labeled with the 24 solar terms onto a sheet that also lists them.

Try getting creative with the sheet by arranging it in a circle with the sun at the center, or by dividing it with colors that evoke spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Family crests of the Sengoku period

[History] Sengoku-period family crests quiz [10 questions total]

This is a recommended game about Sengoku-period family crests for seniors who enjoy history.

There were several types of crests in the Sengoku era; famous examples include the Tokugawa clan’s triple hollyhock (Mitsuba Aoi) and the Toyotomi clan’s Paulownia crest (Go-Shichi no Kiri).

It is said that family crests indicated lineage, bloodline, family status, and social rank.

Draw these crests on plastic bottle caps and place them on a sheet with the names of warlords.

If you’re familiar with the Sengoku period, this can spark stories about episodes from the time and the historical background.

By the way, family crests are said to be a unique cultural tradition found only in Japan.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Word association game about spring

Brain Training: Word Association Game — Spring

Let me introduce a “word association game” that’s fun to play while chatting and can accommodate any group size, from a few people to many.

Given a prompt like “What comes to mind when you hear ___?”, say aloud as many associated words as you can think of.

Writing all the answers on a whiteboard so everyone can see helps prevent duplicates and also uses existing answers as hints to spark further associations.

Reflecting on your own experiences and thinking about words, seasonal foods, culture, and other commonalities with the topic engages the brain, which may help prevent cognitive decline.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kojifumi

Report a problem

Who am I? Animal edition

[Three-Hint Quiz] Who am I? <Theme: Zoo> 5 Easy Quiz Questions!!

Let me introduce a game where you guess an animal based on three clues: “Who am I?” As each hint is given, you get closer to the answer, so by the final hint you should be able to figure it out.

You can show the questions, but you can also run the game for a large group by reading them aloud without showing them.

This creates the dual task of memorizing the prompts and thinking while remembering, which stimulates the brain.

It’s a recommended activity because it’s fun and may help prevent cognitive decline.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kojifumi

Report a problem

Who am I? Historical Figures Edition

“Who Am I?” Quiz: Historical Figures Edition! Fun brain-training questions for seniors [10 easy questions]

Let me introduce “Who Am I?”, a game where you guess a famous historical figure using three hints.

Each hint becomes more specific—second more than the first, third more than the second—so both history buffs and beginners can enjoy it.

You can also project it on a screen to play with a large group.

Using a rule like “If you know the answer, raise your hand instead of saying it” prevents spoilers and keeps it fun, while a rule like “Discuss your thoughts together as you go” lets everyone enjoy thinking it through as a group.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kojifumi

Report a problem

A game where you associate kanji with pictures

[Associative Kanji] Brain Training #3: Guess Which Kanji the Picture Represents – A Popular Association Game for Dementia Prevention

Let’s look at a picture and use our imagination! Here’s an idea for a game where you associate kanji with a picture.

It’s said to be popular as a way to help prevent dementia.

For example, prepare an illustration showing three trees in a row and think about which kanji it represents.

The answer is “森” (mori, meaning “forest”).

In this way, it’s a simple and fun game where you look at an illustration and answer with the kanji that fits.

Since it makes you think, you’ll likely feel refreshed when you figure out the answer! Give it a try!