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

Quick brain training, “Ready, set!” game

No prep needed for senior recreation or props! Simple and exciting! Ready, set, go! Game

Here’s a simple brain-training game you can do while seated, with no prior preparation.

Pair up in twos.

When one person calls out a number—like “Ready, five!”—both of you raise your hands or feet.

If the total number of raised hands and feet matches the number that was called, you’re correct.

You can make it more game-like by intentionally raising more hands or feet to throw off your partner’s guess, and enjoy training your brain as you play.

It also helps to create a cheerful atmosphere where mistakes lead to laughter.

Since raising hands and feet doubles as light exercise, try it together with older adults.

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Nakajima Junko

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Listen to rakugo

Rakugo performance by the rakugo club “Wakai” on February 8, 2017

Kick off the year with the first laughs of the season and make it a fun one! Some older adults may be fans of rakugo, the traditional performing art that dates back to the Edo period.

There are surely people who used to spend New Year’s by going to a yose theater to listen to rakugo.

Since January marks the start of the year, we all want to spend it smiling and having fun.

You could invite a rakugo performer for everyone to enjoy together, or create an opportunity to learn and perform rakugo yourselves.

Three rakugo stories recommended for New Year are “Yabu-iri,” “Katsugiya,” and “Hatsu Tenjin.” Be sure to give them a listen!

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Mnemonics! January Events Quiz

Born from wordplay! Fun Commemorative Day Quiz — January Edition

Even on ordinary days that we pass without much thought, various shops and industries may have established some kind of anniversary.

This is a quiz that encourages you to think about why those anniversaries were set on those particular dates and to deepen your understanding of them.

In addition to dates that are important to companies, some are chosen based on puns made from the numbers in the date, so pay attention to how the numbers sound.

After getting familiar with the wordplay-style quizzes, it could be fun to think of other dates that might work as puns as well.

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kappamaki

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Newspaper-pulling-with-your-feet game

Three pull-out games using your feet that seniors can play while seated #recreation_for_seniors #seated_activities #newspaper

Here’s a game that gets you moving your feet while having fun and training at the same time.

Have older adults sit in a chair and pull a sheet of newspaper with their feet.

They can pull it with one foot or with both feet together.

You can also have two older adults sit facing each other at a distance and compete—it should be fun.

Besides providing leg exercise, it’s likely to increase interaction among older adults and bring more smiles.

It can also help with a change of pace and stress relief.

Please give it a try.

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Nakajima Junko

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January 9 Cold Day Exercises

Jan 9: “Proper Handwashing Exercise with the Tortoise and the Hare” — Today’s Brain Training & Care Prevention #short

Winter is the season when colds go around, isn’t it? Because the air is dry, if you don’t properly prevent them with thorough handwashing and gargling, your risk of catching a cold increases.

Did you know that January 9 is Cold Day? To help prevent colds, let’s practice proper handwashing exercises.

Washing your hands while singing the “Rabbit and Turtle” song can make it more fun.

It’s also recommended because you can clean areas you don’t usually scrub carefully, like fingertips and wrists.

Making sure to lather your hand soap well is another key point for washing cleanly.

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Nanaka

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January chair exercise

[For Seniors] Japan’s January Chair Exercises – Teacher Gobou

Since many people take it easy over the New Year holidays, some of you might find your bodies getting a bit sluggish.

Winter is cold, and it’s hard to get motivated to move, isn’t it? For those people, I recommend simple exercises you can do while sitting in a chair.

This time, I’ll introduce exercises that incorporate New Year–themed keywords.

With things like the “Kadomatsu Stretch” and the “Mochi-Pounding Workout,” you can train muscles throughout your whole body.

In particular, the “Mochi-Eating Exercise” activates the muscles you need when eating mochi, so you can feel at ease.

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Nanaka

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New Year’s gift envelope game

[New Year Rec] Otoshidama Envelope Game! A recreation where you can enjoy the seasonal feeling! Let’s play while doing some calculations!

When you think of New Year’s, many people think of otoshidama (New Year’s money), right? The Otoshidama Toss Game is a recreation you can enjoy during the New Year.

The rules are simple: toss beanbags into paper cups labeled with different amounts of otoshidama.

You can enjoy it even while seated.

Because the game also involves doing calculations, it makes for good brain training for older adults! Offering a prize to the person who collects the most otoshidama could make it even more exciting.

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Kawamura Mina

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