[For Seniors] From Games to Crafts: A Complete Guide to Paper Cup Recreational Activities
Preparing recreational activities at senior care facilities can sometimes be a burden for staff.
It’s tough to get everything ready while handling daily duties, isn’t it?
For those in that situation, we’re introducing a recommended recreation activity using paper cups.
Paper-cup activities aren’t just easy to prepare with minimal materials—they also offer various benefits for both physical activity and cognition.
And because paper cups are lightweight and soft, they reduce the risk of injury for older adults, making the activities safe to conduct.
Be sure to incorporate them into your daily recreation programs!
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[For Seniors] From Games to Crafts: Paper Cup Recreation Ideas (31–40)
Fluffy shaved ice
Known as a classic symbol of summer, fluffy shaved ice is an easy craft that’s also recommended for seniors and helps everyone feel cooler.
Use crayons to freely draw letters and patterns—like ice or a shop name—on a paper cup.
Then gently place cotton on top of the cup to form an ice-like shape.
Finish by painting the surface of the cotton with your favorite colors—red, green, blue, and more—to create a piece that looks just like real shaved ice.
Adjusting the amount of water in the paint and how the colors blend is part of the fun, as it lets you express different “flavors.” The fine finger movements provide stimulating brain activity, allowing you to enjoy a creative time that reflects the season.
It’s also visually striking and can instantly add a cool, refreshing touch just by displaying it.
Paper cup fireworks
Fireworks made with paper cups are a classic summer craft that even older adults can easily enjoy.
Cut several vertical slits along the side of the cup and gently flare them outward to create the look of an opening firework.
Draw patterns on the bottom of the cup with colored pencils or crayons to give it your own original firework design.
You can glue the finished firework onto black construction paper to depict it bursting in the night sky.
By changing the angles of the slits and the colors you use, you can create a variety of fireworks, which broadens the scope for creativity.
The hands-on process of planning colors and shapes helps stimulate the brain, and once completed, the craft also works well as a seasonal wall decoration.
It’s a recommended activity that lets you easily enjoy a hallmark of summer indoors.
Moving fan
Hands are said to be a “second brain” because they are equipped with various sensors.
Stimuli gained by using the fingertips are transmitted to the brain, and research suggests that increased blood flow and activation in the brain can help prevent cognitive decline.
With that in mind, here is a craft idea that uses the fingers: a “moving fan.” First, cut part of a paper cup to make the propeller and the body.
Poke a hole in a plastic bottle cap, and fasten it using a toothpick, a rubber band, and some beads.
Attach it to the body, then twist the toothpick connected to the rubber band—the elasticity will make the propeller spin, completing your fan.
Total Concentration PET-bottle Kendama
Did you know that May 14 is Kendama Day? It’s said that when older adults play kendama, it brings back memories and stimulates the brain.
Also, moving the arms and fingertips and aligning the body to a target position is very good for both the brain and body.
Why not try making this kendama and playing with it yourself? It’s easy to make: tie a string to the mouth of a plastic bottle, and attach a paper cup to the other end of the string.
That’s it.
Hold the bottom side of the plastic bottle and try to catch the mouth side with the paper cup to play.
paper cup koinobori
Let’s make a carp streamer (koinobori) using a paper cup.
If you use pre-colored paper cups, it’s easier.
If you only have white cups, try covering them with origami paper.
Cut or tear origami paper or paper tape and stick the pieces onto the cup—this creates the scales, and torn scales give each koinobori a unique look.
Add eyes with round stickers and attach a tail fin made from strips of origami paper.
Fix a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) or string to the head, tie it to a straw, and you’re done.
With the straw attached, you can place it in a vase and set it on a table.
Displaying them in a facility can help older adults enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
[For Seniors] From games to crafts: Paper Cup Recreation Roundup (41–50)
Cup stacking
This is a recreation activity where you use sticks to stack paper cups.
Unlike simple cup stacking where you quickly stack them by hand, using sticks requires you to control the strength of your arm movements.
You can adapt it as an individual competition, a team match, or set a time limit with the winner being the person who stacks the most cups.
Paper cup kendama
If you make a paper-cup kendama, it can be a gift for your grandchild and a way to exercise your arms.
All you need are paper cups, string, and aluminum foil, so it’s easy to try.
The structure is simple: glue two paper cups together bottom-to-bottom, thread a string through, and hang a ball made by crumpling aluminum foil.
The way you play is slightly different from a traditional kendama—you toss the ball into the top and bottom cups.
It’s lightweight, so there’s no worry about injury if you drop it.
