[For seniors] January health topics: A roundup of popular recreational activities from exercises and crafts to New Year’s games

Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese New Year’s face-making game)

A lively New Year’s recreation! Deciding the Fukuwarai Lucky Maiden! [Senior Recreation, Winter Recreation, Also Usable for Day Services]

Many older adults can enjoy Fukuwarai, a traditional New Year’s game.

Using facial parts made of paper or wood, players try to place the eyes, nose, mouth, and other features in the correct positions to complete a face.

Because players aim to place each part where it belongs, the game helps build concentration and may help prevent cognitive decline.

It’s a recommended recreation that lets you have fun while celebrating the New Year.

You can adjust the difficulty by changing the types and number of facial parts.

For beginners, it’s best to reduce the variety of parts or make the placement positions easier to understand.

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Kawamura Mina

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Paper cup kendama

Recreation for Seniors – It’s Challenging! That’s Why It’s a Huge Hit When You Nail It! Paper Cup Kendama

Many people have probably played with a kendama, but how about trying this paper-cup kendama made with paper cups? With just a paper cup, cardboard, string, and a colored ball, it’s easy to make—but while it’s simple to build, it’s relatively challenging to play.

If that sounds too difficult, there’s also a version that uses a deep paper plate instead of a cup, which is recommended.

You can make two identical sets and race to see who reaches the goal first, or try team matches and time trials.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Battledore and Shuttlecock Tournament

Day Service Asumiru: Today's recreation, a ‘Hanetsuki’ (traditional Japanese battledore) tournament

How about a New Year’s recreation of hanetsuki using homemade hagoita paddles and balloons? Using a paddle is more challenging than batting the balloon with your hand, and it requires controlling strength and direction, so it’s highly recommended.

Try cooperating as a group and competing to see how many consecutive hits you can get.

If you don’t have handmade paddles, you can still enjoy it by cutting a clear file or a piece of cardboard into the shape of a hagoita.

It’s also a great idea to include making the paddles themselves as one of the activities.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Kagami mochi stacking

Get excited from New Year 2022! New Year’s activities to enjoy the seasonal spirit [2021 • Recreation • Senior Recreation]

Kagami mochi, a symbol of the New Year, is an important presence when welcoming the season, isn’t it? It’s considered a lucky decoration displayed to invite the gods and bring them joy.

In fact, it’s said that the spirit of the gods dwells within it.

The two stacked round rice cakes are also said to mean that good fortune will be layered upon itself.

Here’s a fun game using this auspicious kagami mochi.

Everyone stacks kagami mochi and competes to see who can build theirs the fastest.

Careful, detailed handiwork is key—if you don’t stack them carefully, they might topple over!

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Nanaka

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Snowball Fight Game

@hirose_ds

TranslationCaregivingElderlyRecreation#2021New Year's partySnowball fightBalloonTerritory capture

♬ Starman (2012 Remaster) – David Bowie

When it comes to winter snow play, nothing beats a snowball fight! Many of us played as kids and ended up covered in snow.

Here’s an event that brings back those fun memories: a snowball-fight game using balloons.

Put tape down the center of the room to divide it into two sides.

Place several inflated balloons on the tape, and at the starting signal, throw “snowballs” to knock the balloons over to the other team’s side.

When the game ends, the team that has moved more balloons into the opponent’s territory wins.

Throw lots of snowballs, get moving, and feel like a kid again!

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sasashina

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Wall decoration: extra-large fluffy kagami mochi

[January Wall Decoration] Fluffy Extra-Large Kagami Mochi [Easy Craft] Kagami mochi

At New Year’s, we display kagami mochi as a vessel for the Toshigami deity.

In this idea, we’ll recreate the kagami mochi using fluffy tissue paper.

First, stack several sheets of tissue paper, accordion-fold them, and tie the center with thread.

Then carefully separate the layers one by one, pulling them toward the center.

This will create a half-sphere, flower-like shape.

Make a total of five of these pieces, and create the mikan (mandarin) as well by using orange tissue paper in a slightly smaller size.

Stack these in tiers to form the kagami mochi on the wall.

Cut out the mikan leaves and a sanpō (ceremonial wooden stand) from construction paper to finish it off with a festive touch.

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sasashina

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New Year’s decoration of Mount Fuji

[New Year Decoration] Let's make a Mt. Fuji New Year decoration out of paper. 🗻

Imagine a hanging scroll and let’s make a New Year’s decoration featuring Mt.

Fuji.

First, cover the entire surface of the cardboard base with reversible crepe paper, then attach washi-pattern origami to the top and bottom.

Cut a Mt.

Fuji shape from the reversible crepe paper, create the snowcap with white drawing paper, and layer and glue it on.

Cut a circle from gold origami and glue it onto the base, then attach the Mt.

Fuji on top.

Finally, decorate with rabbit, flower, and ribbon parts, attach a hanging string, and you’re done.

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sasashina

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