Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Enjoy Easily! Hand Play 'Shimoshika Meyo' (If If, Tortoise)

Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

Many older adults have probably sung the children’s song “The Hare and the Tortoise” at least once, don’t you think?

Some seniors may even have memories of singing it when they were little, or of singing it to their own children or grandchildren.

So this time, we’d like to introduce the hand game “Moshi Moshi Kame-san,” which was inspired by “The Hare and the Tortoise”!

Some facilities may already be using it during recreational activities or as part of their daily exercise routines.

It’s a familiar exercise for many seniors, and the “Moshi Moshi Kame-san” hand game comes in many variations.

There are some cleverly devised versions too, so please give them a try!

[For Seniors] Enjoy Easily! Hand Play “Shimo Shimo Kameyo” (21–30)

Rhythmic exercises with carp streamers

Song exercise you can do while seated: 'Children’s Song – Koinobori (Iraka no Nami)'. Rhythm exercises for seniors and older adults. #seniors #exercise #rhythmicExercise

Rhythmic exercises with carp streamers

Do you know the “ikarano-nami” that appears in the children’s song Koinobori? One theory says that ikarano-nami refers to the wave-like pattern formed by the ridge tiles at the peak of a tiled roof.

When you listen to Koinobori, you can imagine the carp streamers swimming as the waves of clouds and the ikarano-nami overlap.

These days, it seems we don’t sing or hear the version of Koinobori that mentions ikarano-nami as often.

Some older people may find Koinobori nostalgic.

If you do exercises themed around carp streamers, you might be able to feel the season while you move.

Try moving your body to the song’s expansive tune and melody.

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In conclusion

A hand game that uses “Moshimo Shikameyo,” a tune familiar to many older adults.

There are many variations—not only moving the hands, but also the feet or the whole body, and rhythm exercises where you move your hands while singing.

Some of these hand games and exercises look simple but are surprisingly difficult.

Since some seniors may find it hard to move their bodies, please try them within a comfortable range without overexertion.