[For Seniors] Have Fun with a DIY Fishing Game!
Here’s a handmade fishing game perfect as a recreation activity for seniors!
Just like real fishing, concentration is key in the game until you catch a fish.
What’s more, using the head, arms, and fingers to reel in the catch stimulates the brain and helps keep it active.
Because it’s a DIY game, seniors can enjoy the process of making it as well.
For seniors who used to enjoy fishing as a hobby, the game can also be a chance to reminisce about their pleasant fishing memories.
Since many people are familiar with fishing, even those who have never fished before will find it easy to try this game.
Try adding creative touches—like preparing fish that match the season—to make it even more fun!
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[For Seniors] Have Fun with a Handmade Fishing Game! (1–10)
Fun at the table! Plastic bottle cap fishing game
This is a game where you skillfully fish up plastic bottle caps with clips attached to them using a magnet at the tip of a fishing rod.
Because the bottle caps are small, it helps train concentration to accurately identify your target.
If you play while seated and fishing from a central mat, you may end up in a crouched posture, so we also recommend a version played at a table with a short rod to encourage proper posture.
It’s a game that strengthens movements such as firmly engaging the shoulders and arms to lift the rod, as well as fine motor control to guide the magnet toward the target while the string swings.
Fishing game with newspaper
This is a seated indoor recreation activity.
Prepare lots of newspaper strips, a pair of long cooking chopsticks, and a basket.
Imagine the newspaper strips are fish and stack them up.
Then, using the chopsticks, “catch” the fish one by one and place them into the basket.
Set a time limit, and the person who catches the most fish wins.
It’s easy to prepare, so it’s highly recommended!
Use empty containers! Cute fishing game
This is a game where players catch fish made by reusing empty containers, such as drink bottles, taking advantage of their unique shapes.
Lactobacillus drink bottles have wide, bumpy openings, which really convey the look of a fish with its mouth open.
Just wrap the whole thing with vinyl tape and attach facial features and fin parts to complete the fish.
For the fishing rod, attach a hook made from pipe cleaners or other wire to the end of the string.
You can increase players’ focus by adding variations like placing weights inside the containers to make them harder to lift, or making the string longer to make it trickier to handle.
[For Seniors] Have Fun with a Handmade Fishing Game! (11–20)
Plastic bottle fishing
Tie a chopstick—cut just a bit longer than the opening of a plastic bottle—to a string, and use it as a fishing rod to skillfully “catch” the bottle.
The motions of inserting the chopstick into the bottle and hooking it so it won’t slip out test fine motor control and focus on small, precise movements.
Because it’s simple, it’s fun to add flair: draw fish on the bottles, choose different kinds of string, or decorate the chopstick.
You can also adjust the difficulty by changing the bottle’s weight or the rod’s length, helping players concentrate even more on delicate movements.
Fishing game made with envelopes
There are probably many seniors who think, “I want to go fishing!” Especially for those who love fishing as a hobby, this fishing game made with envelopes can be a lot of fun.
All you need are envelopes, rubber bands, cellophane tape, colored pens, stickers, and so on.
First, shape the envelopes into fish, then draw faces and other details with colored pens and add stickers—that’s it.
It’s very easy to make the fish, so it’s an activity seniors can try without difficulty.
Then, make a fishing rod using items like chopsticks and paper clips, and you’re ready to play the fishing game.
It would also be fun to give each fish a point value and have seniors compete with one another.
Let’s look for some fish and try catching them!
The fish-finding game played as a recreation activity for older adults is always a big hit.
It’s easy to enjoy not only for those who love fishing, but also for complete beginners.
The game involves placing various fish on a table and catching them with a rod.
A staff member calls out the name of a fish on the table, and the older adults look for it.
Because it requires split-second decisions, it helps develop their powers of observation.
Through this game, older adults can learn fish names, and it also serves as brain training, so it’s highly recommended.
One-hook Fishing Game
When it comes to fishing games, many involve making a fishing rod with a stick, string, and a magnet, and attaching magnets to the fish.
But this one is a simple “single-rod fishing game” that only uses a stick and newspaper, and is easy to prepare.
Cut a lot of newspaper into long, thin strips and place them on a table.
The game is to scoop them up—fish them—using the stick.
How many can you land within the time limit?
