[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] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities (21–30)
Word Calculation Game
Here is a recreational activity where you try calculating words using the rules of arithmetic.
First, present a few example problems that allow people to discover the rule, and write their answers.
Then, once you feel people have grasped the rule, present the actual problems.
If no one can figure out the rule, it can get dull, so it’s a good idea to offer additional hints if necessary.
If you prepare the problems in advance, you can start without any special materials, so it’s something you can enjoy even in short spare moments.
Beanbag Tower
This game uses beanbags—an indoor winter classic—and tests precise hand movements and concentration.
A paper cup is placed upside down in front of you, and you compete to see how high you can stack beanbags on top of it.
The tricky part is that one hand must support the cup while the other hand alone stacks the beanbags.
Because beanbags easily change shape when force is applied, you’ll also need to think about what shapes to create as you build.
Running the game with a time limit further sharpens focus and quickness at hand, so that’s highly recommended too.
Gum-Gum Kick Bowling
It’s a game where you attach a ball made from crumpled newspaper to your foot with a rubber band, kick it forward, and try to knock down a row of milk cartons.
Because the ball is connected by the rubber band, it returns to your feet after you kick it, so you keep kicking and race to see how fast you can knock down all the cartons.
Not only the kicking motion, but also pulling the ball toward you to position it for an easier kick is a key point.
If the ball is in a hard-to-kick spot, your stance can become unstable, so while keeping a sense of speed, proceed carefully.
Winter Infection Prevention Exercises
Winter, when the air is dry, is a season when colds and other illnesses spread more easily, so it’s important to take thorough preventive measures.
Here is an exercise routine you can do while seated that helps prevent infections by getting your whole body moving.
Start with a warm-up to raise your body temperature and boost the effects of the workout.
Then move into the main exercises: not only movements for the arms, shoulders, and legs, but also exercises for the lips—engaging the entire body down to the finer parts.
Understanding how this leads to infection prevention can help you focus and stay more engaged with the routine.
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.
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.
finger exercises
We move our hands unconsciously in daily life, and becoming more aware of them can lead to smoother day-to-day living.
This exercise helps raise awareness of hand movements and is also expected to have brain-training effects by using the fingers.
Extend both hands in front of you and perform different movements with each hand, maintaining firm focus on your hands as you proceed.
If the complex hand movements feel confusing, it’s recommended to start with a slow rhythm and gradually increase the speed.
Focusing on your hands might cause your posture to round, so be mindful to keep your back straight as you do the exercise.