![[Elderly Care Facilities] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/kRz6Bv9ojeQ/maxresdefault.webp)
In senior facilities such as day-service centers, isn’t it common to hold sports days on a regular basis?
Along with everyday recreational activities, try incorporating events that feel like a traditional sports day!
In this article, we introduce familiar sports day events with ideas tailored to the physical and mental conditions of older adults.
Some ideas can even be enjoyed while seated, making them accessible to many seniors.
Use this article as a guide to create a sports day that everyone can enjoy together.
- [For Seniors] A Fun Sports Day! Recreational Activities You Can Do Safely
- [Nursing Home] Recommended for Sports Day! Lively Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Have Fun! A Collection of Group Game Recreation Ideas
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers for the Elderly
- [For Seniors] Add Enjoyment to Everyday Life: A Compilation of Activity Care Plans
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- Liven up the Respect-for-the-Aged gathering: A roundup of recreational activities everyone can enjoy.
[Elderly Care Facility] Let’s Have Fun Together! Exciting Sports Day Events (1–10)
Keep tossing the beanbags!
Let’s take on the challenge of not knocking over the unsteady, wobbly piece of thick paper! We’ll introduce a game idea that uses beanbags you toss one after another.
Beanbags are familiar items to people in Japan, right? How about trying a game where you play using beanbags—tossing them one after another? Participants form a circle, and in the center you place a piece of thick paper or cardboard on top of a stand—then you’re ready to go! Players take turns throwing beanbags at the thick paper, aiming to land them on top.
It’s a thrilling game where the person who causes the thick paper to fall off the stand loses!
Bread Carrying Race
Among all the events at a sports day, the ones that use food are always the most popular, aren’t they? Many of you probably experienced the bread-eating race when you were kids.
This time, I’d like to introduce a bread-carrying race that everyone can enjoy together.
You make different kinds of bread as a craft, place them on a box, and overcome obstacles as you go.
You can make your favorite type of bread, and after the game, prepare the same kind of bread as the craft and eat it together—sounds like a great way to boost motivation.
Getting past the obstacles actually takes some arm strength, so it seems like a good workout for building muscles, too.
Balloon Baseball
Aim for a home run! Here’s an idea for balloon baseball.
The hardball used in regular baseball is very hard and makes a sharp “clang!” when it hits the bat.
This time, let’s try balloon baseball by using a balloon instead of a hardball.
What you’ll need: duct tape, a balloon, and a pool noodle.
Place the roll of duct tape on the table as is, and set an inflated balloon on top of it.
Grip the pool noodle firmly, and if you give it a good swing to launch the balloon, it’ll feel refreshing, too.
It’s also nice that you can try it while seated.
ring toss
Even seniors want to casually enjoy a sports day and feel like they’ve gone back to their childhood, right? The ring toss we’re introducing this time is designed so that anyone can easily take part.
Even if you’re not confident in your physical strength, you can simply toss the rings lightly while seated, aim for a high score, and hit the targets.
Just deciding where to aim helps train cognitive function.
It also enhances spatial awareness and decision-making.
Because everyone can get excited together, laughter comes naturally and communication skills deepen as well.
Baton relay
When it comes to school sports days, the relay is the most exciting event, isn’t it? Many older adults may find it nostalgic, reminding them of their childhood.
This time, we’re trying a baton relay.
It’s an easy event to enjoy while seated, so it’s recommended for seniors.
Split into two teams, everyone will pass a baton threaded on a string along the line.
Since you all work together to avoid dropping it, it also helps build communication skills.
Competing is important at a sports day, but the main goal is for everyone to have fun together.
A quick newspaper tug-of-war with feet
Foot tug-of-war might feel refreshingly new for older adults, too.
Many of us tried tug-of-war as children—this time, let’s do it with our feet! It’s an indoor activity, so the setting is ideal.
Place a sheet of newspaper on the floor and have two people pull on it with their feet.
There’s an illustration in the center; compete to see who can pull more of the newspaper to their side.
The key is to use your leg strength effectively and move quickly.
Enjoy experimenting together and have fun!
Slipper Toss
A simple yet exciting game where you launch slippers with your foot! Here are some fun ideas for slipper launching.
Slippers are lightweight indoor footwear that are easy to slip on and off.
This time, let’s try a slipper-launching challenge that makes the most of those features.
All you need is a pair of slippers.
Try launching a slipper while seated.
The person whose slipper flies the farthest wins.
It could be fun to have everyone shout a countdown like “1, 2, 3!” to time the launch together.