[For Seniors] Brain-Training Recreation Using a Whiteboard
In many day-service facilities, it’s common to include recreational activities designed with brain training in mind.
No matter the senior, it’s easy to get absorbed in these activities.
In this article, we’ll introduce brain-training recreations that use a whiteboard.
Whiteboard-based activities are appealing because they’re easy to understand and enjoyable regardless of group size.
They’re especially lively with larger groups and can help deepen interactions among participants.
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[For Seniors] Brain-Training Recreational Activities Using a Whiteboard (21–30)
Autumn Word Collection Brain Training
This is a brain-training activity where participants freely write words related to the season on a whiteboard under the theme “What comes to mind when you think of autumn?” Participants say as many words as they can think of, and staff write them on the board.
Once a certain number has been collected, the board is hidden, and participants are asked to recall and say as many of the words as they remember.
This activity stimulates memory while naturally developing creativity and vocabulary.
Talking about seasonal topics helps evoke shared memories and emotions, encouraging the enjoyment of speaking and broadening conversation.
Because it focuses on enjoyment rather than right or wrong answers, it allows older adults to use their brains without strain, making it a suitable and enjoyable recreation.
Autumn Letter Rearrangement Quiz
It’s a quiz where you write scrambled letters of autumn-related words on a whiteboard and guess what the word is.
Choosing themes like seasonal foods and traditional autumn scenes makes it easier for older adults to participate.
When someone gets the right answer, there’s applause and cheers, which naturally encourages conversation.
By offering hints and thinking together, you can stimulate the brain and improve concentration.
It also sparks stories about past memories and discussions of seasonal flavors, helping deepen connections among older adults.
It’s an activity that’s easy for anyone to join and can be enjoyed repeatedly.
Speaking of July
When you think of summer vacation, fireworks festivals, and Marine Day, does July come to mind? A whiteboard activity themed around July can help older adults recall the season.
Summer days spent feeling the heat—like eating watermelon with family or seeing sunflowers blooming in the garden.
Through a whiteboard activity, it may prompt older adults to look back on their memories of July.
As they share stories from past Julys, it’s likely to spark lively conversations with those around them.
Autumn Delicacies Ranking
Here’s an idea for a seasonal recreation activity perfect for seniors: “Autumn Flavors Ranking.” Using real popular-vote sites as references, pose questions themed around the top five most popular autumn foods.
If you have participants guess without hints, differences in knowledge, experience, and personal preferences become conversation starters, and the discussion naturally expands.
The answer reveal is also a big highlight.
You can compete on the number of correct answers, or simply enjoy chatting about “This is my number one!” It’s an appealing activity because anyone can join without physical movement, and it also stimulates the brain—highly recommended.
Word Search: Constellations Edition
Among the letters scattered in a 6-by-6 grid, the names of constellations are hidden.
The names can appear in three directions—vertical, horizontal, and diagonal—and some must be read from right to left or bottom to top, so read carefully to find the correct combinations.
Each puzzle has a time limit, which can make you feel rushed, but it’s important to stay calm and focused.
Since the answers are constellation names, it may be somewhat difficult for those not familiar with them.
Studying constellations in advance could be the key to success.
Learning new knowledge also helps stimulate the brain, so it may be effective in preventing cognitive decline.
Color Game
How about a color game as a whiteboard activity? For this game, prepare papers with color words written on them.
The key is to make the kanji different from the actual color of the text.
Instead of reading the words on the papers attached to the whiteboard, ask the participating seniors to say the color of the letters.
It may seem easy, but it actually trips people up and often leads to lots of laughs.
Because you see with your eyes and think with your head, it’s effective for reflexes and brain training.
Start by letting them answer slowly and thoughtfully, then gradually pick up the pace.
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.
