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[For Seniors] Brain-training puzzle game you can enjoy solo! Perfect pastime for killing time
Enjoyable fun on your own! Are you looking for a relaxing puzzle game that keeps your mind flexible? Activities like matchstick puzzles, Tetris, and Japan map puzzles that skillfully use your fingers and stimulate the brain are reliable companions for making solo time more fulfilling.
This time, we’re introducing enjoyable puzzle games that are easy for older adults to try.
By moving your hands and focusing, you’ll naturally feel refreshed.
Why not give them a try at your own pace?
Puzzle Game (1–10)
Handmade puzzle made of cardboard
Turn your own drawing into a puzzle! Here are some ideas for making a handmade puzzle out of cardboard.
It sounds fun to create a puzzle that’s uniquely yours, doesn’t it? This is a great, enjoyable idea for people who are good at drawing or simply love to draw! What you’ll need: cardboard, drawing paper, glue, paste, a ruler, a pen, a craft knife, clothespins, and more.
Cut up your drawing and it transforms into a puzzle! Adding a frame can also serve as a hint when fitting the pieces together.
Give it a try!
A puzzle where you fit counters (ohajiki) into a frame
Group recreation where everyone gets lively together is fun, but taking time to think carefully and enjoy things at your own pace is important too.
This time, we’re introducing a finger dexterity puzzle using ohajiki (small glass game pieces).
Preparation is very simple: get some paper and ohajiki.
Draw circles on the paper about the same size as the ohajiki, and place the pieces around them.
Using your index finger, try to push the ohajiki into the circles.
You can change how it feels a lot by drawing circles slightly larger or smaller than the ohajiki and making a rule that they only count if they fit exactly, or by trying fingers other than the index finger.
Because it also engages spatial awareness, it serves as brain training.
It’s also recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.
A puzzle game where you put caps into the empty spaces of an empty box.
Fill the gaps! Here’s an idea for a puzzle game where you place caps into an empty box.
Some of you might be collecting plastic bottle caps but aren’t sure how to use them.
This time, let’s make a puzzle using plastic bottle caps and an empty box.
What you need: an empty box (from sweets or sundries) and plastic bottle caps.
How to play: the simple rule is to put the plastic bottle caps into the empty box so that there are no gaps left.
A jigsaw puzzle on a cup noodle lid
Exciting! Here’s an idea for a jigsaw puzzle using instant cup noodle lids.
The designs on cup noodles vary a lot from product to product, right? This is a DIY puzzle that lets you enjoy those differences.
You’ll need seven cup noodle lids, scissors, a ruler, a pen, and so on.
To make it, simply divide each lid into four pieces.
It’s simple, but when you try playing, it’s surprisingly challenging and can take time to complete.
Laminating the pieces is also a nice touch.
Matchstick Puzzle
This is a puzzle where you take an incorrect equation made with matchsticks and rearrange a specified number of sticks to turn it into a correct equation.
Think carefully about how the current equation is wrong and exactly what needs to be changed.
When moving just one stick, it doesn’t necessarily stay within the same digit, so be aware that two digits might change at the same time.
It’s also important to judge which digits to keep.
In the end, there’s more to think about than you might expect with this puzzle.
Kanji Combination Puzzle
Let’s make it with origami! Here’s an idea for a kanji combination puzzle.
Cut origami paper into long, thin strips to create kanji—a unique and fun approach.
All you need are origami paper, scissors, and kanji cards.
Try forming the specified kanji using only the origami parts! It’s best to start with characters that have fewer strokes.
Once you get used to it, you can increase the stroke count or set a time limit to make it even more exciting! The key is to prepare origami parts in different sizes.
Origami Tetris
Three-dimensional and fun! Here’s an idea for origami Tetris.
Many of you have probably played Tetris on a computer or game console, right? This time, let’s make tetrominoes—just like they jumped out of the game world—using origami.
All you need is origami paper and scissors or a craft knife.
You’ll divide a 15 cm square sheet into four parts to make them, so this is a perfect idea for those who are good with detailed work.
Let’s make some tetrominoes and play!