[For Seniors] Lively Wordplay Game: Fun Recreation for Elderly Care
Among word games, the one that continues to be loved by people of all ages is shiritori.
In shiritori, you take the last letter of a word and use it to link to a new word, right? How about enjoying this long-popular game with a variety of fun twists? Lively word games like these also serve as brain training and are appealing because everyone can dive in together and have a great time.
This time, we’re introducing shiritori word games that older adults can truly enjoy.
They range from easy to a bit more challenging, so give them a try!
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Association Game Brain Training (1–10)
What is a ____ that starts with ____?
This is a brain-training game where you answer with words that “contain/start with” a given character! For example, if the prompt is foods that start with the letter i, you could answer with as many words as you can think of, like “imo (potato),” “ika (squid),” and “ichigo (strawberry).” Once you get used to it, raise the bar by saying “Let’s name 10 or more!” or limit answers to katakana words to increase the difficulty.
Even though there are plenty of possible answers if you think calmly, when you try to respond under a time limit, it can be surprisingly hard to come up with them.
For brain activation, why not try this during preparation time for recreational activities?
Onomatopoeia Association Game
Onomatopoeia that express sound effects and mimetic words, such as “zaa-zaa” (pouring rain) and “kune-kune” (wiggly/twisty), are said to help expand creativity and stimulate the brain.
For example, try asking a quiz like, “What comes to mind when you hear ‘ton-ton’?” and have people answer.
Everyone can enjoy it—some answers will make you chuckle, and others will be surprising things you wouldn’t normally think of.
You’ll also make new discoveries like, “Oh, that’s another way to see it,” or “So that’s how it feels to you,” and it can be used in many different situations.
An evolved word-association game with a spring theme
This is a variation on a word-association game where you throw out a theme word and have participants think of words that fit the condition.
Write two blocks on the board—adjectives like “cute” or “round,” and nouns like “animals” or “vegetables”—and have them quickly come up with combinations of the two.
Setting a rule like “things related to spring” makes it easier to form images from scenery, so that kind of tweak is recommended.
Since participants must think of combinations instantly after they’re specified, it should effectively stimulate the brain.
Kanji Matching Association Game
This is a brain-training game where you connect related kanji with lines.
Write several kanji split into an upper row and a lower row.
From the kanji lined up, find ones that share a connection—like “sky” and “cloud,” or “cherry blossom” and “spring,” which relate by place or season—and connect them with lines.
The key is to choose items that are related, not identical, which makes you use your head! It might help to offer hints that make associations easier, such as “speaking of spring flowers,” and proceed while gauging the pace of the participants’ answers.
Who am I? Animal edition
Let me introduce a game where you guess an animal based on three clues: “Who am I?” As each hint is given, you get closer to the answer, so by the final hint you should be able to figure it out.
You can show the questions, but you can also run the game for a large group by reading them aloud without showing them.
This creates the dual task of memorizing the prompts and thinking while remembering, which stimulates the brain.
It’s a recommended activity because it’s fun and may help prevent cognitive decline.
A game where you associate kanji with pictures
Let’s look at a picture and use our imagination! Here’s an idea for a game where you associate kanji with a picture.
It’s said to be popular as a way to help prevent dementia.
For example, prepare an illustration showing three trees in a row and think about which kanji it represents.
The answer is “森” (mori, meaning “forest”).
In this way, it’s a simple and fun game where you look at an illustration and answer with the kanji that fits.
Since it makes you think, you’ll likely feel refreshed when you figure out the answer! Give it a try!
Guess the Dish Name Word Association Game
Here’s a quiz that also works as brain training: guess the name of a dish.
How about livening up a cold winter break by sharing quizzes together in a warm room? Pick five ingredients used in a finished dish, and have everyone guess the name of the dish made with them.
Thinking “What dish could you make with this ingredient and that one?” is great for your brain.
People who cook might have an advantage.
Try asking about a wide range of dishes—from popular everyday fare to slightly more specialized cuisine.
