[March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
March is the season when we start to feel the arrival of spring little by little.
Fresh greenery and flowers begin to bloom bit by bit, making us want to go outside.
However, older adults who spent the winter indoors may feel a lack of exercise, find themselves unable to do things they used to, or in the worst case, experience falls.
This time, we’ve put together caregiving recreation ideas themed around March!
With events like Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) and graduation ceremonies, it can be a time of many farewells.
There are also exercises inspired by songs related to graduation!
Even if you’re worried about going outside all of a sudden, everything here can be done indoors, so please enjoy and give them a try!
- [For Seniors] March-Themed Event Activities
- [For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- [For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation
- [For Seniors] Haiku for March: Enjoying a Spring Moment with Famous Verses
- [For Seniors] Crafts to Make in March! Recommended Project Ideas
- [For Seniors] Core Training: Recommended Simple Rehabilitation
- [For Seniors] Spring Haiku. Spring Activity
- [For Seniors] Introducing Whiteboard Activities That Liven Up Spring!
- For Seniors: Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy in April
- [For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements
- [For Seniors] Spring Songs You'll Want to Hum: Feel the Season with Nostalgic Classics
- [Elderly] Feel the Arrival of Spring with Snack Activities! Recommended Menus for March
- [For Seniors] Enjoy a Warm Spring! April Health Topics Roundup
[March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (11–20)
Take photos with a Hina doll panel
Haven’t you ever wanted to become the Ohinasama (Empress doll) or Odairisama (Emperor doll) at least once? But actually preparing kimono and getting your hair done is a lot of work, isn’t it? So why not become the Ohinasama or Odairisama using one of those face-in-hole panels you often see at tourist spots? All you have to do is hold up the panel and put your face in, so anyone can enjoy it easily.
If everyone takes photos together while holding the panels, it will surely make for wonderful memories of Hinamatsuri.
Hinamatsuri Doll Carrying Game
Place the hina dolls and the imperial prince and princess made from cups on a base attached to a string.
Participants should pull the string with their feet to reel in the base.
Try not to knock over the dolls as much as possible.
You can decide the winner by how many cups remain standing, or assign points in advance and compete based on the points of the dolls that stay upright.
Since you have to use your feet firmly to pull it in, it’s also perfect for a lower-body workout!
Hinamatsuri Target Game
It’s a game where you throw balls at a target inspired by a tiered hina-dan display.
Hula hoops are used for the target’s frames, and they’re covered with tape that makes the balls stick.
On the tape are illustrations of the Ohinasama (Empress), Odairisama (Emperor), the three court ladies, and the five musicians, and it seems the score varies depending on where you hit.
As expected, the tape beneath the Empress and Emperor likely yields higher points…
It’s a game everyone can enjoy, letting you get moving while soaking up the Hinamatsuri spirit!
Hinamatsuri Bag Toss Game
Attach illustrations of the Ohinasama and Odairisama to plastic bottles, then cover them with bags.
At the start signal, participants use uchiwa fans to send air and blow the bags off the bottles.
Prepare several bottles, and make the rule that the person who removes all their bags first wins.
Bags won’t fly off if you fan them from the front, so the key is how well you strike the fan against the table to send air from below.
Also, be careful: if you don’t send air continuously, the bags will fall back down.
Cup Hina Doll Making
Let’s have fun creating crafts perfect for Hinamatsuri.
Wrap cotton in tissue, then wrap that in fabric to make a cushion.
Place this cushion in a cupcake liner, then attach a collar cut from fabric and face and hair parts made of paper.
Add bead eyes and a fan to finish.
Make the Emperor doll the same way and display the two side by side.
If you use a cup with a lid, you can keep it on display every year without dust collecting on it.
The cushion fabric will serve as the kimono pattern, so prepare any design you like.
Creating cute and chic Hina dolls for adults
Here’s a simple way to make cute Hina dolls.
First, stick fabric tape in the center of a piece of felt, fold 3 cm from one edge, and make a 2 cm slit in the middle.
Use the slit to neatly shape the collar with a little twist, then fold the felt in half and secure it with double-sided tape.
Next, glue on a bead about 1 cm in diameter to represent the head.
After making two figures, craft small accessories from origami, thread them through a large eye bead, and attach them to the dolls to finish.
By playing with colors and accessories, you can create charming, unique Hina dolls.
The process itself is fun, so it’s highly recommended!
[March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (21–30)
Spring lettering
Wrap beanbags with flower tissue paper to make balls that look like hina-arare, and write one hiragana character on each.
Prepare a five-letter target word and a box that holds five letters.
Using chopsticks, pick up the balls and move them to another box to complete the word.
The time spent deciding which letters to choose is fun, and natural conversation flows—“Huh? Is that wrong?” “That’s a good one!” Unexpected words can appear and spark big laughs, creating a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
It engages both the mind and the fingertips, promoting brain activation and fine motor movement.
It’s a perfect Hinamatsuri game you can enjoy while playing.