[For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
We want to spend time filled with fun and smiles! With that in mind, we’re excited to introduce a variety of cleverly designed recreational activities.
From nostalgic games that get large groups buzzing to handmade games and snack-time activities, we’ve gathered options seniors can enjoy together.
These activities help build concentration while moving the body and spark lively conversation.
If everyone takes on the challenge together, you’re sure to make wonderful memories.
Be sure to incorporate them into your daily recreation!
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- [For Seniors] Guaranteed to Be a Hit! Popular Day Service Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
- [For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
Team Recreation (21–30)
Bell cracking
The real thrill of a sports day is everyone on the team doing their best and getting lively over wins and losses, right? This time, we’d like to introduce “Suzu-wari,” a team event that really gets the crowd going.
You’ll need two large colanders, red and white tissue paper flowers, and some balls.
Attach the red and white tissue paper to the large colanders, then face the openings of the colanders together and stick them to create a big kusudama (paper ball).
If you put small pieces of paper in various colors inside, it’ll look beautiful when it opens, like a shower of confetti.
Once you hang the kusudama, all that’s left is for the players to throw balls at it! It’s fun and also serves as training from the shoulder to the fingertips, so even those who aren’t fond of rehabilitation will be happy to participate with this activity.
Newspaper Ring Relay
This is a game where team members stand in a single line holding hands and pass a ring made from newspaper along the linked hands.
Because you hook the ring by moving your joined hands, teamwork and syncing your timing with the person next to you are important.
Since you can’t move your hands freely, you tend to tense your arms, so it not only trains focus and speed on the ring, but also works the upper body, especially the arms.
You can make it more challenging by using a smaller newspaper ring and other tweaks, which boosts concentration even further—highly recommended.
Ball feed with a rod
The “Ball Rolling with Sticks” recreation is a game anyone can play, and it really livens up a group.
You use sticks to roll balls made from newspaper all the way to the goal.
It’s great fun with a large group, with lots of lively interaction.
By helping each other and calling out encouragement to keep the ball moving to the goal, participants naturally communicate with those around them.
Making lots of newspaper balls also requires wrist and finger movements, making it good rehabilitation.
It’s enjoyable for all ages, from children to older adults!
Ball/Tamaire Game (1–10)
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
When you think of tamaire, you probably picture a sports day event where people stand up or squat to toss balls into a big basket.
But you can enjoy tamaire while seated, too! Everyone sits on chairs in a circle, and a basket for the balls is placed in the center—here’s a fun twist: make it a scoring game where landing a ball in a small target (a can) in the middle is worth 100 points, and landing it in the larger surrounding basket is worth 10 points.
It’s more exciting than just tossing balls in, so I highly recommend it!
Table game using a ball
How about a simple tabletop game for recreational activities where older adults can sit and play using a ball? All you need is a rubber ball and a table—its simplicity is part of the appeal! The basic idea is to keep a rally going by bouncing the ball, and although it’s simple, it’s surprisingly exciting.
Once everyone gets used to one ball, try using two! You can also enjoy it as a game of catch or split into teams of three-on-three.
It’s perfect for gentle physical activity for seniors, so give it a try!
Bowling
How about everyone having fun with bowling? That said, we don’t actually have to go to a bowling alley.
With some pins and a ball, anywhere can become one.
You can insist on making them yourself, or you can find toy sets that let you bowl easily.
Getting prizes ready would make it even more exciting! A tournament format could be fun, too.
Give it a try when you want to move your body a bit or build some strength.
Aim for a strike!
Casual Ball Curling
Curling became well-known through the Winter Olympics, so many of you may already be familiar with it.
It’s a team game where you compete to see which team can get their balls closer to the center ball.
Preparing this recreation is as simple as getting a few balls ready.
That’s all it takes to create a fun activity that helps participants interact more with each other.
Since it can be played while seated, it’s also appealing because it can be enjoyed in a way that suits the physical and mental conditions of older adults.
