Lovely senior life

Fun Recreational Activities for Seniors Using Newspapers!

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
lighterutatane
A person from the melodic hardcore boom generation who loves music, photography, and eating. I’ve been going to live houses for over 20 years. I’m at the age where summer festivals are starting to feel tough physically. I sometimes try shooting live photos and videos for MVs. I’m not great at English, so I often listen to straightforward Japanese rock that hits directly, but if someone recommends something, I’ll listen to anything—Western or Japanese—broadly and casually. I like cooking while listening to music; it’s a nice way to relieve stress.

Newspapers—useful for making things, playing, and even in everyday life—are indispensable items for recreational activities in senior care facilities.

In this article, we introduce recreation ideas for older adults that use newspapers for fun.

We’ve gathered a wide variety: activities that use fine finger movements, those that engage the whole body, and others that encourage thinking and problem-solving.

There are options suitable for large groups and small groups alike, so feel free to adapt them to the number of participants and your event.

[For Seniors] Introducing Fun Recreational Activities Using Newspapers! (21–30)

Newspaper on newspaper

Senior recreation: newspaper activities — balancing on a sheet of newspaper

Newspaper on newspaper

What kind of game is “Newspaper-on-Newspaper,” exactly? It’s a team game.

You throw a ball made from newspaper.

At a short distance away, two teammates spread out a sheet of newspaper together and try to catch it—it’s a recreational activity.

Aiming your throw at the target and catching the thrown ball with the newspaper are surprisingly tricky! It’s sure to get exciting as a team competition.

You don’t need any special place or equipment, and the rules are simple.

People of any age, gender, or athletic ability can enjoy it.

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fireworks

Fireworks torn-paper collage

fireworks

How about enjoying torn-paper collage using newspapers, a familiar recycled material? Fireworks—a hallmark of summer—are perfect as a seasonal motif because you can explore colorful, dynamic expressions! The unique texture and tones found only in newsprint add warmth and character to your artwork.

It’s also exciting to hunt for the various colors in the newspaper and cut them out.

Spending patient, focused time on the process stimulates the brain, so take your time and immerse yourself in creating your piece.

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[For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Using Newspapers! (31–40)

Newspaper Ball Rolling Game

If you want a super exciting group game, this is it! Newspaper Ball Rolling Relay

Newspaper Ball Rolling Game

Let’s try a newspaper ball-rolling game where you pass balls using sheets of newspaper! Within each team, form pairs of two.

Each pair holds the ends of a newspaper sheet and transfers the ball onto the neighboring pair’s newspaper.

The last pair places the ball into a box, and the team that gets all their balls into the box first wins! Handling thin newspaper is surprisingly tricky.

Older adults, too, will likely enjoy the challenge, saying things like, “It doesn’t do what I want it to!” The difficulty also changes with the type of ball, so it’s a great idea to prepare various balls of different sizes and weights.

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Cup stacking (with paper cups)

Recreation for seniors – super easy, can be done with one hand! Paper cup knockdown

Cup stacking (with paper cups)

This is a “knock down the paper cups” game you can play with one hand.

Use a stick and a ball made from newspaper to knock over paper cups.

Attach a string to the newspaper stick and tie the newspaper ball to the string.

Aim at the paper cups placed on the floor and swing the hanging ball to knock them down.

Recreational games also help relieve stress.

With this game, you can have fun while blowing off steam and refreshing your mind.

Since you use your arm, it’s an easy way to try some light training.

Because it can be enjoyed with one hand, it’s also recommended for people with hemiparesis.

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In conclusion

We introduced some recreational activities using newspaper.

Most of them can be played with just newspaper, and it really shows how versatile it is—you can have this much fun with a single sheet.

Stimulating the brain by using the fingers is important for older adults, and these are activities you’ll want to incorporate into daily life.

Be sure to enjoy training together while having fun.