[For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
Winter’s cold makes it easy to feel reluctant to go outside, doesn’t it?
In snowy regions, some older adults may find going out difficult in the first place.
These “Seated Activities for Winter” are perfect for such seniors!
We’ve gathered exercises and games you can enjoy safely and comfortably in a warm indoor setting.
From activities that move the legs and hands while seated to those with brain-training elements, they help keep the body active and support dementia prevention.
We hope these ideas help you enjoyably get through the rest of this bitterly cold winter!
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- For Seniors: December Health Topics — Winter Recreational Activities to Warm the Body and the Heart
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- [For Seniors] Recommended Easy Strength Training
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- For seniors: Enjoyable exercises done while seated, accessible for wheelchair users.
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- [For Seniors] Fun Exercises You Can Do While Seated
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[For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities (21–30)
Paper cup drop
This is a game where you throw beanbags at paper cups lined up in the distance and compete to see if you can knock them over.
It helps develop concentration to hit the target and control of strength to get the beanbag there.
An interesting point is that it requires even more focus in the latter half, when the number of cups has decreased, compared to the beginning when many cups are lined up.
You can also make the game more challenging by adjusting the cup’s sturdiness with added weights or by having players throw from farther away.
Goldfish Game
At festival stalls, there’s usually a goldfish scooping game, right? Besides scooping, here’s a fun game that uses goldfish as the theme.
Two people hold the ends of a face towel, and place a goldfish plushie or a crafted goldfish on the towel.
While shaking the towel, they toss the goldfish into a basket that’s been set up in advance.
Assign points based on the size of the basket and the distance to the basket.
This innovative goldfish game should be enjoyable for older adults as well.
It also seems like it would be exciting to play as teams.
Ball-Picking Game
When April comes, the weather becomes mild and there are more pleasantly warm days, don’t you think? It’s also a time when it’s easier to move your body, so why not have some fun with a simple game? Here’s a ball-collecting game that uses lots of balls.
Roll many balls across a table toward older adults seated in chairs.
The seated participants holding containers will pick up the balls as they roll toward them.
Since it can be done while seated, it’s accessible for those who have difficulty standing or for older adults who use wheelchairs.
Clap-along brain training
This is an exercise that uses handclaps and other hand and finger movements to train the brain while also improving circulation.
Because it’s done through hand movements, you can try it while seated and relaxed.
The basic pattern alternates between clapping and raising fingers, and you can add variations such as changing which fingers you raise or adjusting the rhythm.
As the movements become more complex, it’s easier to get confused, so it’s recommended to start with an easy rhythm and gradually increase the speed.
Fall prevention exercises
Winter’s severe cold tends to make our bodies stiff, which can increase the risk of falls.
That’s exactly why, during this chilly season, we recommend incorporating a full-body exercise routine focused on fall prevention into your daily life.
When we think about preventing falls, we often focus only on foot movements, but here we’ll not only center on the feet—we’ll also move the whole body to promote smoother overall movement.
Even during leg exercises, pay attention to your posture and hand placement; maintaining proper alignment will help you exercise efficiently and effectively.
15-minute lunchtime exercise
In many senior care facilities, some may incorporate exercise as a daily lunchtime routine.
However, doing exercises every day can make them feel repetitive.
So here are some seated exercises you can try.
Let’s get the body moving by touching knees and elbows, lifting the hips slightly from the chair, and more.
While seated, you can move not just your hands and arms but your whole body.
Long exercise sessions can be tiring for older adults, so about 15 minutes seems manageable.
Try it while taking breaks as needed.
Winter Song Exercises
Although the cold of winter can be harsh on the body, it’s also an important element that lets us feel the passage of the seasons.
This is an exercise routine set to a winter-themed song that helps you really sense the arrival of winter and the chill.
Start by firmly catching the song’s rhythm with seated marching, then expand into various movements from there.
Incorporating motions that match the lyrics helps convey the mood of the piece, so keep that in mind as you proceed.
To encourage full, large body movements, it’s best to include a warm-up and progress at a slow tempo.