[For Seniors] Recommended for older adults: enjoyable recreational activities

Touch to the music

If, if, Mister Turtle, dear Mr. Turtle♪

This exercise has participants alternate between clapping and touching parts of their body in time with a song.

By giving the instruction for which body part to touch right before each move, you effectively activate the brain as it plans the next action.

If you direct them to touch areas farther from the clapping position, it can also help them focus more on full-body movement.

You can gradually increase the tempo of the music to encourage quicker physical responses, and by making the combinations more complex—such as using one hand versus both hands—you can further enhance the brain-training effect.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Milk Carton Craft: Rock-Paper-Scissors Bingo

Milk Carton Rock-Paper-Scissors O/X Bingo

In this game, whoever wins rock-paper-scissors places their own marker—made from a milk carton—on a grid, and the first to complete three lines wins.

Because placement depends on the outcome of rock-paper-scissors, you get a different kind of mind game than the usual take-turns format.

Not only is placement strategy important, but figuring out how to win at rock-paper-scissors also becomes a key factor.

If there’s a big skill gap in rock-paper-scissors, it’s a good idea to add handicaps, such as changing the number of lines needed to win.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)

[Day Service] Ball-Toss Battle!

Tamaire, the beanbag toss often played at school sports days, is a real crowd-pleaser.

Try adjusting it so that older adults can enjoy it too.

Have the participants sit on chairs and form a circle with a basket placed in the center.

They’ll aim for the basket and toss in beanbags or balls.

Splitting into two teams for a head-to-head match will make it even more exciting.

You can also enjoy a variation where several baskets are placed on a table and players throw balls into them—great for solo play as well.

If you attach papers with point values to the baskets, it adds a fun, game-like element.

Ball Grabbing Game

[Mini Game] Ball Grabbing Game ♟️ #dayservice #recreation #elderly #nursingcare #rehabilitation #sportsrecreation #shorts

Let’s play a game where you grab balls using newspaper.

All the tools used in the game are made from newspaper.

Make the balls by crumpling newspaper into a sphere, and make the grabbing sticks out of newspaper as well.

You can create everything you need for the game using everyday materials.

Place several balls inside a circle, grab them with the stick, and put them into a basket.

If you set a time limit, the game gets more exciting.

Forming teams and competing for the best time will make it even more fun.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Get Excited! Beanbag Toss Bingo Game

[Cheerful Recreation 🏀] An 80-year-old bends forward! Let’s do this for next week’s activity! Beanbag Bingo Game

It’s a cooperative game where everyone aims for bingo, incorporating the action of tossing beanbags.

Nine baskets are placed in the center of a seated circle, and players throw beanbags to land them on top of each basket.

If you place five or more beanbags, you clear that basket, and you work toward bingo using the baskets you’ve cleared.

In addition to adjusting the strength of each throw, be sure to focus on cooperating so your beanbags don’t collide with your teammates’.

It’s a game that lets everyone enjoy striving for a common goal while getting plenty of physical activity.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Laugh-and-Roll Game

Laugh-and-Roll Game to Train Hands and Fingers [Recreation for Elderly Rehabilitation]

How about trying a winding game that also exercises the fingers? Put a ball or other items in an empty box, attach a long string, and reel in the string to pull the box toward you.

It seems like it would be exciting as both an individual and a team competition.

You can also get creative with the rules: for example, stand paper tubes of various sizes on a flat tray and see how many you can bring back to yourself without knocking them over—that sounds fun, too.

You could assign points based on the size of the paper tubes and have players add up their scores themselves, which also makes for good brain training.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Easy! Beach Ball Recreation

Don't miss out! 4 easy beach ball recreation ideas for older adults

Beach balls are light, easy to throw, and designed with safety in mind.

This time, we’ll introduce some recreational activities using a beach ball.

First, have older adults sit on chairs facing each other.

Place the beach ball on their outstretched legs and pass it to the next person in a relay style.

You could make it a team competition and prepare prizes for the winners to boost excitement.

Another lively option is beach ball soccer target toss: players kick the ball, and whoever gets it into the container first wins.

Since it involves a lot of leg movement, it helps strengthen older adults’ muscles and is also ideal for rehabilitation.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nanaka

Report a problem