[For Seniors] Popular Brain Training and Recreational Quizzes

Word association game about spring

Brain Training: Word Association Game — Spring

Let me introduce a “word association game” that’s fun to play while chatting and can accommodate any group size, from a few people to many.

Given a prompt like “What comes to mind when you hear ___?”, say aloud as many associated words as you can think of.

Writing all the answers on a whiteboard so everyone can see helps prevent duplicates and also uses existing answers as hints to spark further associations.

Reflecting on your own experiences and thinking about words, seasonal foods, culture, and other commonalities with the topic engages the brain, which may help prevent cognitive decline.

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A game where you associate kanji with pictures

[Associative Kanji] Brain Training #3: Guess Which Kanji the Picture Represents – A Popular Association Game for Dementia Prevention

Let’s look at a picture and use our imagination! Here’s an idea for a game where you associate kanji with a picture.

It’s said to be popular as a way to help prevent dementia.

For example, prepare an illustration showing three trees in a row and think about which kanji it represents.

The answer is “森” (mori, meaning “forest”).

In this way, it’s a simple and fun game where you look at an illustration and answer with the kanji that fits.

Since it makes you think, you’ll likely feel refreshed when you figure out the answer! Give it a try!

Association game: various surnames

[Word Association Game] Various Surnames

There are many different surnames in Japan.

Depending on the region, you might find people with rare surnames, or areas where many people share the same surname.

According to one theory, surnames have various origins: some come from the family line one was born into, others from occupations, and still others from the places where people lived.

So this time, we’d like to introduce “Word Association Game: All About Surnames.” Give participants one minute to think of as many surnames as they can.

After one minute, have them say the surnames they came up with and write them on a whiteboard or similar.

One person can aim for 10, or the whole group can aim for 50.

It’s perfect as a mental workout, so please give it a try!

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Single-Overlaid Kanji Association Quiz

Single-Character Overlaid Kanji Association Quiz! Who will claim the glory...? [No way!]

Let me introduce the “Overlapping Kanji Single-Character Association Quiz,” which features a two-step challenge: writing multiple kanji stacked in one spot, then guessing what the combined kanji makes you think of.

First, you have to decipher the kanji gathered in one place—but it won’t be straightforward.

Don’t rush; tackle them one by one.

Once you figure out the overlapping kanji, derive an answer such as something associated with that character—an object, a person’s name, or a place name.

Since it’s quite difficult, it’s a good idea to start with problems that overlap just two kanji.

Be sure to savor the sense of accomplishment when you get it right!

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Word search with lyrics about Mt. Fuji

Word search game #shorts #dayservice #nursingcare #Aizen-en

Let’s enjoy some brain training using familiar children’s songs! This time, we’ll use the lyrics of “Mount Fuji.” We’ll make a fill-in-the-blank activity with parts of the lyrics missing, and have participants think about what words go there.

Instead of just recalling the lyrics, they will search for words from prepared letter cards and assemble them.

Finding the correct answer gives a real sense of accomplishment.

Using well-known songs familiar to seniors makes the activity approachable and can also lead into singing.

It’s a fun way to help prevent cognitive decline, so it’s recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.

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Kanji Search: Let’s find the character ‘田’

Kanji search game: 由 and 田; word search; spot the differences; mini-games; brain and eye exercises; Find the Japanese kanji

Let’s look for the kanji 田 among the many 由 characters lined up.

There are four 田 characters in total.

Checking each character one by one is good for training your concentration, but if you take a bird’s-eye view of the whole, it becomes easier to find characters that are hard to see.

Also, as the title suggests, this is an exercise for your eyes and brain, so it’s important to keep a flexible mindset.

It’s fine to do it on your own, but competing to see who can find them fastest with multiple people could make it more exciting.

It’s also recommended as a quick recreational activity in senior care facilities.

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Kanji hunt: Let’s find the character ‘士’

Kanji search game: 士 and 土. Word search, spot-the-difference, mini games, brain and eye exercises. Find the Japanese kanji.

Let’s find four instances of the character 士 among regularly arranged 土 characters.

Checking each character one by one helps train concentration, but it’s also important to take a bird’s-eye view of the whole.

As the title suggests, this is an exercise for your eyes and brain, so shake off fixed ideas and keep a flexible mindset.

There are many ways to enjoy it: do it individually or compete in teams to see who can find them the fastest.

It’s also recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities, so give it a try!

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