[For Seniors] June Health Topic: Recreational Activities to Enjoy the Rainy Season
June is part of the rainy season, bringing lots of rain and a damp, muggy feel.
It’s easy to feel a bit down or to go out less, which can lead to a drop in physical fitness.
In this article, we’ll introduce health-focused recreational activities perfect for June, especially recommended for older adults.
We’ve gathered crafts that can brighten a rainy-day mood and exercises ideal for preventing a lack of activity—just right for a month full of rain.
Let’s enjoy a healthy month for both body and mind through fun recreation!
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For Seniors: June Health Topics. Fun Rainy-Season Recreational Activities (21–30)
Beanbag Tower
Many older adults may have played otedama (beanbags) when they were young.
Some may have even played otedama with their own children or grandchildren.
Here, we’d like to introduce a game where you stack otedama to build a tower.
The rules are simple: place a paper cup upside down and compete to see how many otedama you can stack on top.
By holding and stacking the beanbags, you can expect to improve or maintain finger dexterity, balance, and concentration.
You can play alone to focus, or make it a team competition for extra excitement.
If you’d like, please give it a try!
Balloon holder bag with a string
Here’s a fun balloon-in-a-string game that’s sure to liven up events and gatherings.
Seat several older adults in chairs facing each other, each holding a length of string.
Connect the strings between the people facing each other and have everyone hold their strings taut.
By moving the strings up and down or sliding them sideways, work together to carry a balloon to the goal.
Cooperation is a key element of this game.
Since players call out to each other while they play, it also encourages communication with others.
For Seniors: June Health Topics — Fun Rainy Season Recreations (31–40)
Fluffy ball
Let’s have fun with a game where you compete for points using balloons.
Inflate a balloon and tie a string to it with a weight attached to the end.
Before you start, write point values on the floor.
Aim for the spaces with the written points and throw the balloon.
The person who scores the most points wins.
The trick seems to be to swing the weight firmly as you throw the balloon.
Throwing the balloon can also be an effective workout for the upper body and arms.
Since balloons aren’t very heavy, there’s little risk of injury if they’re dropped, which is nice.
Strikeout
Strikeout is a game where you throw balls at numbered targets.
In addition to helping with arm exercise, strikeout is said to strengthen the core.
Building core strength stabilizes your body’s balance and can help prevent falls.
It’s a game where you knock down numbered targets, letting you train your body while having fun.
Because it’s a lively game that many people can enjoy together, it’s great for playing indoors.
Instead of numbers, why not make targets using season-themed illustrations or photos?
ball rec
Recreation using soft, lightweight balls is recommended for older adults.
Throwing and catching a ball engages various physical and sensory abilities, such as muscle strength, grip strength, and dynamic vision.
Simply touching balls that can roll or be squished is also enjoyable for their tactile feel.
Because of this, such activities are believed to have positive effects on the brain as well.
There are ball-based activities that can be done while seated, making them accessible to many older adults.
Have participants sit in a circle and pass the ball forward and backward.
If someone can stand steadily, have them walk to the next person and hand the ball to their neighbor.
This helps improve core balance.
Ball-Picking Game
When April comes, the weather becomes mild and there are more pleasantly warm days, don’t you think? It’s also a time when it’s easier to move your body, so why not have some fun with a simple game? Here’s a ball-collecting game that uses lots of balls.
Roll many balls across a table toward older adults seated in chairs.
The seated participants holding containers will pick up the balls as they roll toward them.
Since it can be done while seated, it’s accessible for those who have difficulty standing or for older adults who use wheelchairs.
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the beanbag toss often played at school sports days, is a real crowd-pleaser.
Try adjusting it so that older adults can enjoy it too.
Have the participants sit on chairs and form a circle with a basket placed in the center.
They’ll aim for the basket and toss in beanbags or balls.
Splitting into two teams for a head-to-head match will make it even more exciting.
You can also enjoy a variation where several baskets are placed on a table and players throw balls into them—great for solo play as well.
If you attach papers with point values to the baskets, it adds a fun, game-like element.