[For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
In this article, we introduce recreation activities you can enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At day service centers and other senior facilities, a variety of recreational activities are held every day.
However, during periods when COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are spreading, worries are never-ending.
So we’ve gathered activities that can be enjoyed while maintaining distance—such as those for small groups or done in turns.
What’s more, they can all be done while seated, making them enjoyable for wheelchair users and those who are unsteady standing.
You may also find that more people will casually join in, thinking, “If it’s something I can do while sitting, I’ll give it a try.”
Please use these ideas as a reference for your daily recreation programs.
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities (21–30)
Flapping Paper Cups
Here’s an activity you can do while seated: the paper-cup flapper.
All you need are a paper cup and a handheld fan (uchiwa).
Place the paper cup upside down on the table, then fan it with the uchiwa.
The cup will move, pushed by the wind.
When you move the cup to a designated spot, you’ve cleared the challenge.
Timing it and competing can make it even more exciting.
A tip for moving it well: hold the uchiwa level, pointing toward the cup, and fan as if tapping the table.
Balloon Volleyball Relay
It’s a game where you gently tap the balloon upward to pass it to the next person, linking passes all the way to the goal basket.
Passing sideways can be difficult, so it may be easier to place a helper in front and have players tap the balloon toward them.
If you chase balloons that fly off to the side, it might put strain on the body, so it’s also a good idea to attach a string to the balloon so you can easily bring it back into view.
Encourage players to focus on gauging the right amount of force to connect to the next person and on judging how to capture the balloon in each situation.
[For Seniors] Safe and enjoyable even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Sit-down activities (31–40)
PET bottle cap puzzle
Let’s have fun with a puzzle game you can make using plastic bottle caps! Prepare a sheet of paper divided into a 3×3 grid and nine plastic bottle caps, then draw the same letters or shapes on both the paper and the caps.
Once you’re done, place each cap according to the numbers or designs in the squares.
Can you place them all without making a mistake? Mixing in similar-looking designs or letters can also help train cognitive skills.
Since it’s a handmade game rather than a store-bought one, feel free to enjoy it with your own tweaks, like increasing the number of pieces.
towel rack
Towels are versatile items that can be used for all kinds of recreation! For improving reflexes, we recommend the Towel Catch Game.
Split into a dropper and a catcher, and grab the towel as it falls.
If you use sticks, you can enjoy games where you toss and catch the towel with the sticks, or move a towel draped over your stick to the next person’s stick.
Two people can hold the ends of a towel, place a beanbag on top, and toss it toward a target, or you can throw a rolled-up towel into a basket.
Liven things up with a wide variety of towel games!
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
This is a brain-training exercise that uses the children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” originally based on an American folk song.
Because you move your body according to the lyrics while singing, it also trains decision-making and quick reactions.
By incorporating various parts of the body beyond the original lyrics, you can fully engage both your mind and body.
It’s a recreational activity we’d like you to enjoy in a game-like way, combining movement with song.
Patakara Card Game
This is a variation where you pronounce randomly arranged words, paying attention not only to pronunciation but also to the sequence of the words.
You proceed using cards that have words containing the letters from “patakara,” such as “papa” or “taka.” Players take turns placing a card on the table and pronouncing it, repeating the flow in order.
As the cards line up, the words to pronounce gradually get longer.
Keep a close eye on the card order and aim for smooth pronunciation.
Some sequences may be difficult to pronounce, so the challenge and strategy in those parts should make it even more engaging.
Ping-Pong Ball Picking Game
A fun game you can easily enjoy at the table is the “Ping-Pong Ball Pick-Up Game.” Two people sit facing each other with a ping-pong ball placed in the center of the table.
The goal is to scoop up the ball with a spoon and carry it back to your own side.
Because ping-pong balls are light and spherical, they’re unstable on a spoon, so balance is key! This helps older adults develop their sense of balance and can also improve concentration.
Once everyone gets used to using the spoon, you can make it more challenging—and even more exciting—by switching to chopsticks.
