[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.
- Recreation Ideas for Seniors: Perfect for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing Activities
- For Seniors: Fun Activities in February — Celebrate Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Snow
- [For Seniors] Fun February Crafts: Ideas Inspired by Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Other Events
- [For Day Service Centers] February Craft Ideas: Decorations for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and the Feeling of Spring
- [For seniors] A handmade calendar you’ll want to make in February
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Valentine’s Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts
- [For Seniors] Recommended February Snack Activities: Easy, Enjoyable Sweet Treat Ideas
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [Day Service] Setsubun decorations that bring smiles. Ideas for enjoying them with a variety of materials.
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Setsubun Crafts! Handmade Ideas Using a Variety of Materials
- For Seniors: Wall Decorations to Brighten Up February — Festive Ideas for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, Plum Blossoms, and More
- [For Seniors] Hinamatsuri Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack Making
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for February: Fun Ideas That Bring Out Everyone’s Smiles (31–40)
Oni Cookies
These are ogre-themed cookies whose charm lies in the satisfying feel of cutting out the dough.
First, make the base dough.
As usual, mix eggs, cake flour, and baking powder.
Then chill it in the refrigerator and you’re ready to go.
Next, use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
We recommend cutters like an ogre’s face or an ogre’s spiked club.
There are many products available, so try finding cutters you like.
By the way, be careful not to overbake, as the patterns can get blurred.
Valentine’s Quiz
We’re introducing a Valentine’s Day quiz that’s perfect as brain training for seniors! If you’re planning a Valentine’s event at a senior facility, why not include it as a recreational activity? We’ve prepared Valentine-themed questions such as “Which country is considered the birthplace of Valentine’s Day?” and “Which chocolate manufacturer sparked Valentine’s Day in Japan?” Providing multiple-choice options, such as three choices per question, will make it easier for seniors to answer.
It would be wonderful if learning about the history and origins of Valentine’s Day helps spark their interest in the holiday!
Origami collage of Mount Fuji
Do you know about “Mt.
Fuji Day” on February 23? It’s said to come from the wordplay on “fuji-san” (2-2-3 in Japanese) and from the fact that in this season, with the air so clear, snow-capped Mt.
Fuji looks especially beautiful.
How about doing a February craft activity with a collage inspired by “Mt.
Fuji Day”? It’s easy and fun: just tear pieces of origami paper by hand and paste them onto construction paper.
If it’s hard to paste directly, it’s easier if you lightly sketch the outline of Mt.
Fuji with a pencil first and then try.
It’s also perfect for finger dexterity training, so why not give it a try?
Beanbag toss into a basket
Speaking of Setsubun, bean-throwing is what everyone pictures regardless of age.
Traditionally, people walk around the room tossing beans, but at events for seniors, moving large groups through limited spaces can be risky.
In that case, you can play a seated game by stretching newspaper over a basket, writing the characters for “oni” (demon) or “fuku” (good fortune) on it, and tossing beanbags at the oni.
You can compete to see how many beanbags you can get into the oni—like a beanbag-toss contest—or simply throw the beanbags with gusto for stress relief.
Why not try it as a February event?
Heart-shaped paper fan
Valentine’s Day is an essential event in February, and when it comes to decorations, hearts are a classic motif.
Here’s a three-dimensional heart design that’s easy to incorporate into your Valentine’s decor.
Cut construction paper into a wide, horizontal oval, accordion-fold it, then fold it in half and glue it together to form a heart shape.
Pink and red are the go-to colors, but creating a colorful display with hearts in a variety of shades could be fun, too.
It works not only as wall decorations but also as a charming addition to gifts.
[For Seniors] Recommended Events for February: Fun Ideas That Bring Out Everyone’s Smiles (41–50)
Sushi rolls made of felt
Ehomaki, a food essential for Setsubun, was originally a tradition beloved mainly in the Kansai region, but it spread nationwide after being promoted by convenience stores.
Let’s make a colorful mascot inspired by ehomaki using felt.
Cut felt sheets of various colors to the same width; for the ingredient pieces, use fabric double-sided tape to make narrow strips, and make the rice and nori pieces wide enough to wrap around the ingredients.
Then simply roll the ingredients with the nori and rice to finish.
It’s also recommended to use Velcro or similar to keep it fastened.
The arrangement of the fillings and the way you roll it are great points where your individuality can really shine.
Let’s make flowers bloom on a withered tree.
In the bitter cold of February, isn’t it the season when our anticipation for the flower-filled spring grows stronger? Let’s heighten that sense of expectation with a game themed around cherry blossoms, a quintessential symbol of spring.
The setup features a tree motif, with paper plates marked with point values arranged along its branches.
Players toss pom-poms, like little flowers, aiming to land them on the plates.
When a pom-pom lands successfully, pink blooms line the branches, making the once-bare tree look as if it has blossomed.
Focus on controlling your throwing strength to achieve both a beautiful display and a high score.