[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!
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- 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! (21–30)
dandelion
Dandelion origami is a recreational activity you can enjoy while feeling the arrival of spring.
Carefully folding each yellow petal also serves as good finger exercise.
Displaying the finished piece in your room creates a bright atmosphere.
Making them together with older adults sparks conversation—teaching each other how to fold and showing off completed pieces naturally leads to communication.
Why not spend a lovely time enjoying the fun of expressing spring flowers through origami while also stimulating the brain?
Wall hanging of rapeseed blossoms
Would you like to make a wall decoration of canola flowers? Canola flowers made with origami make a lovely decoration that brings a feeling of spring’s arrival.
Using your hands for this kind of work helps reduce lack of exercise and also builds concentration.
Once you hang the finished flowers on the wall, your room will instantly become brighter and more vibrant.
Making them together with older adults lets you enjoy pleasant communication while sensing the change of seasons.
If origami is difficult, let’s go step by step and check the folding method together.
Enjoy the warmth of spring with a wall decoration of canola flowers that everyone cooperated to create.
horsetail
How about a spring craft activity using horsetails (tsukushi)? If you make cute horsetails out of drawing paper or origami, you can really feel the arrival of spring.
The process also helps build concentration and stimulates the brain.
For older adults, it can improve thinking skills and help prevent dementia.
It’s a wonderful activity that lets you enjoy the warmth of the season while experiencing joy.
Please consider incorporating it in day service programs and nursing care facilities.
It’s sure to create a lovely time for everyone to enjoy the feeling of spring together.
rapeseed blossoms
Let me show you how to make nanohana (rapeseed blossoms) with origami! These cheerful yellow flowers are a simple way to welcome spring.
Older adults can take their time folding, and still end up with a lovely result.
Even if you’re not confident with fine motor tasks, making them together with others doubles the fun—and the conversation flows, too.
Choosing the paper and folding the petals naturally gets your fingers moving.
Once your nanohana are finished, just looking at them will make you feel the warmth of spring.
How about creating a beautiful field of nanohana together?
String Balloon Relay
It’s a game where you work with the person across from you to skillfully control a string you’re holding and carry a balloon to a target location.
Because you can’t move the balloon well with your own power alone, you feel a bit of frustration, but also the fun of cooperation.
If you make it like a relay where you pass the balloon to the next person, not only coordination with the person opposite you but also strategy with the person before and after you is tested, which makes the game even more engaging.
It’s a game where the spirit of cooperation is key, including how you tension and move the string.
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors
It’s sure to be an exciting match! Try the Newspaper Janken challenge! Have two older adults sit facing each other.
Place a long, narrow strip of newspaper on the table, then play rock-paper-scissors.
The winner tries to grab the newspaper, while the loser must hold it down so it can’t be taken.
By the way, if the newspaper tears, you lose.
It’s a brain-engaging activity where you play janken, instantly recognize the outcome, and act immediately.
Recreations that use both mind and body stimulate the brain and can help prevent dementia.
Enjoy a fun time laughing together with other participants.
Towel relay with newspaper
Here are two games that use newspapers and are great for getting a large group excited.
The first is the Newspaper Towel Relay.
Have older adults sit in a circle, and use a long, rolled-up newspaper stick to pass a towel to the person next to them.
The person who receives it last should throw their hands up and shout to signal the goal.
The second is the Towel Catch Game.
The person holding the towel throws it toward a teammate, and the teammate catches it with a newspaper stick.
The thrower needs to control the strength of their throw, and the receiver needs to imagine where it will fly in order to catch it well.
Recreational activities that get lots of people involved can spark conversations between those who don’t usually interact.
Enjoy these activities that help expand your circle.