[May Health Topic] Introducing recreational activities for seniors!
May is a month full of seasonal events, such as Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.
The weather becomes milder and more comfortable, making it easier for older adults to stay active.
With that in mind, this time we’re introducing easy, enjoyable recreational activities for seniors.
By incorporating crafts and songs unique to May, you can create an atmosphere where participants feel the season while having fun.
Everything is simple to try, so please enjoy participating together with the older adults around you.
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games
- [For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Ideas That Get Everyone Engaged
- [For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
- [For Seniors] May-Themed Wall Decoration Ideas Full of Seasonal Flair
- [For Seniors] May Calendar Craft: Fun and Easy
- [Sports] Recreational games using a ball [Play]
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May: A Collection of Seasonal Craft and Wall Decoration Ideas
- For Seniors: Snacks to Make in May That Capture the Season
- [For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: A Roundup of May Craft Ideas
- With upbeat rhythm routines! Music therapy for seniors
- [For Seniors] Recommended Recreational Activities for Mother's Day
[May Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (81–90)
Quick brain training, “Ready, set!” game
Here’s a simple brain-training game you can do while sitting, with no preparation needed.
Pair up in twos.
When one person calls out a number, like “Ready, five!” both players raise their hands or feet.
If the total number of raised hands and feet matches the number that was called, it’s correct.
You can also turn it into more of a game by intentionally raising too many limbs so the total doesn’t match the number called.
Aim to keep the mood light so even mistakes lead to laughter.
Raising hands and feet also works as light exercise, so give it a try with older adults as well.
Matching game
This is a game where you look at the pictures drawn on the bottoms of arranged paper cups and find and match the ones with the same picture.
By searching for matching pictures, you can train concentration, and by quickly stacking the paper cups, you can also encourage awareness of hand movements.
It’s also important to decide what kind of pictures to draw; for example, limiting them to a spring theme lets players enjoy the game visually as well.
Adding trick elements, such as pictures that look similar but are slightly different, is recommended, as it helps players focus even more on their hands.
kabuto decoration
Here’s an introduction to a craft project that lets you make a lovely samurai helmet (kabuto) with just a few folds.
Many households with boys display kabuto for Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Festival) in May.
For May recreation activities, let’s make a kabuto decoration that can also be used as a wall display.
The method is simple: fold the kabuto with origami a few times, paste it onto a backing sheet, and thread a string through it.
Adding small decorative touches with a bit of creativity will make the piece even more charming.
With a few variations, you can create works that reflect each senior’s individuality.
The finished pieces can be taken home and displayed in their rooms, or put up on the walls of your facility.
Seasonal crafts like this give seniors a chance to experience the four seasons through making things.
Koi Day Exercises
A perfect recreation activity for May 1, known as “Koi (5-1) Day” thanks to a wordplay.
You could start by asking, “What words do you associate with ‘koi’?” Then enjoy the unique “Koi-Koi Exercise,” which moves fingers and limbs using gestures for different meanings of the word: “koi” (carp), “koi” (love), “koi” (come here), and “5 and 1.” Press your palms together and wiggle them, flutter your hands in a “come here” motion, or hold up five fingers and one finger for a finger workout—have fun with a variety of hand-play movements.
Children’s Day Quiz
How about livening up your recreation time with a quiz related to Children’s Day? Questions about kanji and plants, the lyrics of Koinobori, and more make for a fun challenge that jogs the memory.
Turning it into a multiple-choice quiz with numbered answers makes it easier to jump in.
If you also include explanations—such as why kashiwamochi, chimaki, and iris are used, or what the colors of the streamers mean—you can rediscover the depth of Japan’s long-standing traditions.
Konnyaku exercises
Looking at the anniversary calendar, May has all sorts of special days.
May 29 is Konnyaku Day.
It’s said to come from a Japanese wordplay: “ko (5) nni (2) yaku (9).” Starting from associations like “What comes to mind with konnyaku?”—its forms and ways of cooking—you can also train your imagination by wondering, “What kind of movement would it be if I expressed it with my body?” Gently swaying your arms and legs while picturing konnyaku becomes a fun, seated exercise that loosens your joints and muscles.
[May Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors! (91–100)
Spot the differences themed for Cycling Day
May brings refreshing breezes—a perfect season for bike rides.
May 22 is designated as Cycling Day by the Japan Cycling Association.
Why not enjoy a recreation game where you look at an image filled with cycling-related illustrations and kanji and try to find the odd one out? By carefully examining the small drawings, you sharpen your concentration and powers of observation, and the kanji also give your memory a workout.
Set a time limit and enjoy the act of searching, even if you don’t find the answer!