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[For Seniors] Recommended Events for February: Fun Ideas to Fill Everyone with Smiles
February still brings lingering cold, but let’s hold events and get through it together with smiles and fun! When it comes to events that liven up February, the classics are Setsubun and Valentine’s Day.
There’s also Cat Day, Mount Fuji Day, and Kabuki Day.
Recreational activities that let you enjoy seasonal traditions with seniors create special moments that warm both heart and body.
From bean-throwing and heart-themed games to exercises full of seasonal flavor, we’ll introduce ideas packed with February-specific touches.
Move your mind and body, and enjoy a time filled with smiles.
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for February: Fun Ideas That Bring Out Everyone’s Smiles (1–10)
Making an oni maskNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@dai2amakeijusou/video/7467799884851170576We’d like to introduce a craft activity where you choose parts to complete an oni (demon) mask.
Since it can be difficult for older adults to make a mask from scratch, we provide facial parts on construction paper with cutting lines drawn, pre-cut hair base pieces, and yarn in various colors and patterns.
After choosing your favorite parts, combine them to complete your oni mask.
The nice thing about this idea is that you don’t have to create everything from scratch, and by trying out combinations in a basket, it’s easy to imagine what kind of oni it will become.
On the day of the Setsubun event, be sure to wear your handmade mask and join in!
Ehomaki GameNEW!
It’s said that if you eat an entire ehomaki—facing the year’s lucky direction and in complete silence—your wish will come true.
So for Setsubun, let’s enjoy the Ehomaki Game with your wishes in mind! Use black construction paper as the “nori” seaweed, place white paper on top as the “rice,” then add four types of “fillings.” Roll it up, secure it firmly with a rubber band, and pretend to eat it while facing the year’s lucky direction.
Don’t forget to make your wish! If you play this game with multiple people, try competing to see who can finish making theirs the fastest.
Setsubun StrikeoutNEW!
Let’s enjoy a strikeout game—throwing balls to knock out nine targets—with a Setsubun twist.
Normally the panels are numbered 1 through 9, but you can replace them with illustrations of oni (demons) and okame (comedic female masks).
That alone makes it a perfect recreation activity for Setsubun! While strikeout sets can be rented, if you want to customize them, we recommend making your own with cardboard and other materials.
Also, to ensure older adults can participate comfortably, don’t place the throwing line too far from the targets.
Food activity: making Ehomaki (lucky direction sushi rolls)NEW!
For a Setsubun lunch, how about actually making ehomaki? If you’re a woman, you’ve probably made them by hand at least once, so it might bring back fond memories.
Spread a thin layer of rice over the nori and place the fillings on top.
Traditionally, in reference to the Seven Lucky Gods, common fillings include kanpyo (dried gourd strips), tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), cucumber, and shrimp, but it’s a good idea to choose fillings that are easy for older adults to eat.
Once you’ve added the fillings, roll it up and enjoy together.
As you eat, have fun chatting about how it tastes and what kinds of fillings you like.
Demon slayingNEW!
It’s a game where you see how many balls you can throw into a moving oni target.
The oni target has its mouth wide open, with a bag attached at the back to collect the balls.
There are strings attached to the oni’s left and right sides, and pulling these strings up, down, left, and right makes the oni move.
It’s hard to land a ball while it’s moving, so your best chance is that brief moment when it stops before its next move! If there’s a time limit, it might be efficient to toss about three balls in quick succession.
Let’s all work together to defeat the oni!
Heart Attraction Game
Let me introduce a recreation activity perfect for Valentine’s Day.
In this game, you reel in heart-shaped balloons placed on a stand.
Each balloon has a string attached, so turn the handle in front of you to wind the string.
The first person to bring the heart to their spot wins.
There’s also a unique twist: each heart has a staff member’s photo attached.
It’s a great game for finger and hand exercise, so feel free to add your own variations and enjoy it together with older adults.
Distributing chocolates
https://www.tiktok.com/@karitasunosato/video/7205544851985747201Many older adults may not usually eat chocolate, but it still feels nice to receive a gift on a special day, doesn’t it? For Valentine’s Day, why not give a wrapped box of chocolates? Family members or staff can present them, and if you look online, you’ll find plenty of recipes for chocolates that are easy for seniors to eat.
It could also be fun to make them together as a snack activity.
Let’s give them with gratitude, regardless of whether the recipient is male or female.