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[For Seniors] Test Your Memory!? Ideas for Whiteboard Games

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Recreation using a whiteboard is a staple in care settings.

It’s easy to do anytime, anywhere, costs almost nothing, and the appeal is that a wide variety of games can be enjoyed by both small and large groups.

In this article, I’d like to introduce memory games that use a whiteboard.

There are plenty of games that test memory—such as how many words you can recall or what can be inferred from a hint.

They’re perfect for brain training too, so be sure to give them a try.

[For Seniors] Test Your Memory!? Whiteboard Game Ideas (21–30)

Brain training to create kanji related to spring

Summer brain-training game ideas for seniors that avoid crowding. Using a whiteboard, turn “insect” into “firefly.”

Brain training to create kanji related to spring

This is a game where players try to add components to kanji written on a board to transform them into different characters.

For example, you can add parts to 日 to make 春, or turn 女 into 桜.

Choosing kanji with seasonal themes is recommended.

A key tip is to leave plenty of blank space around each character so players have to think carefully about where to add the parts.

If they get stuck, you can give hints about what kind of kanji it could become or where to add the strokes to help spark ideas.

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Fill-in-the-blank with a spring theme

[Whiteboard Rec] Word Fill-in Brain Training! For Activating Seniors’ Brains!

Fill-in-the-blank with a spring theme

It’s a game where you draw circles on a whiteboard—some with blank spaces and some with letters—and have players think of words by filling in the blanks.

While making use of the letters already written, they come up with words of that length.

The broad range of choices helps stimulate the brain.

If you prepare the letters in advance with a spring theme, players can enjoy a sense of spring while still having plenty of options to form words, which is recommended.

The difficulty changes depending on the number of letters and where the blanks are placed, so try various patterns to have players think of different words.

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[For Seniors] Test Your Memory! Whiteboard Game Ideas (31–40)

Song Title Quiz

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Song Title Quiz

A song title quiz where you write the lyrics of any song on a whiteboard and have people guess the song is sure to liven up any recreation activity.

Since most people remember lyrics together with the melody, it can be surprisingly hard to identify a song when only the lyrics are written.

You can start by writing the lyrics in order from the opening lines, and once everyone gets used to it, writing random excerpts can make it more game-like and fun.

Relying on lyrics alone to recall the song title is also great brain training, so be sure to try it in facilities for older adults as well.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Stroke Count Guessing

[Senior Brain Training × Care Recreation] Stroke Count Guessing 8: Dementia and Nursing Care Prevention Video for Seniors [Fukukuru]

Stroke Count Guessing

Do you still handwrite characters? Many people may find themselves writing less if they don’t really need to.

In times like that, a fun recommendation is a stroke-order quiz.

For each kanji, guess which stroke number corresponds to the part drawn in red.

Start with simple characters that have fewer strokes, and then gradually increase the number of strokes or mix in kanji that make you think, “What was the stroke order again?” Don’t worry if you make mistakes—use those moments to learn or jog your memory.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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In conclusion

A memory game using a whiteboard is an easy-to-prepare, surprisingly exciting, and enjoyable activity.

As you draw, think, and discuss, smiles come naturally and your brain gets stimulated.

Let’s take on the challenge at a relaxed pace and in a friendly atmosphere, respecting each person’s rhythm.

By encountering new discoveries and nostalgic memories, it creates a heartwarming moment.