[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?
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Quizzes, Games, and Hobbies (11–20)
Find the theme words
Find answers that match a given theme from jumbled letters.
The themes include fruits, flower names, vegetable names, animal names, food names, Japanese events, and greetings, and both the number of answers and how many you need to find gradually increase.
In the latter half, the number of letters grows, and combined with the time limit, the difficulty rises.
It’s important to stay calm and read the questions carefully.
Watching as a video works well, and turning it into a whiteboard or printed activity makes it fun for both small groups and larger groups.
It’s also recommended for recreational activities at senior facilities.
Heart Blocks Mameshiba
We’re pleased to introduce “Kokoro no Tsumiki,” supervised by Mr.
Chitoku Ishihana of the Rock Balancing Laboratory.
Rock balancing is an art of stacking stones and rocks.
Many of us have likely stacked stones for fun at a beach or riverbank at least once.
This block set requires dexterity and delicate handling, as well as spatial awareness and concentration.
In other words, simply stacking the blocks becomes an unconscious brain workout.
Above all, the adorable Shiba Inu motif is soothing to the heart.
And when you discover an unexpected way to stack them, you’ll surely want to show others.
Kanji Search: Let’s find the character ‘田’
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.
Go (the board game)
Why not use your spare time to give Go a try? It’s great brain training and could be a good chance to make new friends.
The biggest hurdle when starting Go is learning the rules, right? First, try studying with books or videos that explain them.
If you have a computer or smartphone, you can also play solo Go games in your browser or via apps to gradually get used to it.
Many of these games are free, so give them a look!
Change calculation
This is a simple problem where you calculate how much change you’ll get after shopping with the money you have.
Using the theme of shopping makes the problem feel familiar, and it may be easier for many people to answer.
It combines basic addition and subtraction, emphasizing speed from question to answer to keep the mind engaged.
The smaller and more detailed the amounts, the higher the difficulty, so it’s recommended to adjust the challenge while checking the participant’s calculation skills.
Handmade Crafts & Art (1–10)
Kusudama Cube
Making a cube-shaped kusudama with origami is a delightful idea that’s perfect for recreational activities with older adults.
You create many origami units and interlock them like weaving to complete the cube kusudama.
Because it involves fine hand movements and sustained focus, it can help maintain and even improve cognitive function.
The colorful, eye-catching result is also appealing as a decoration after it’s finished.
It’s beginner-friendly, encourages teamwork and conversation, and is an excellent activity for enjoying a relaxed, friendly time together.
Coloring book
In recent years, coloring books have become a boom.
While coloring might evoke the image of something for children, there are actually many coloring books designed for adults as well.
Some products even let you learn about animals or history while you color.
First, try looking for a coloring book with a theme you like.
If you’re not sure whether you’ll enjoy coloring, it’s a good idea to start by trying free downloads available from your computer or mobile phone.