For Seniors: Fun Activities in February — Celebrate Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Snow
In February, when the chill still lingers, how about spending some joyful time with activities that warm both body and soul? We’ve gathered plenty of smile-bringing ideas that capture the unique seasonal feel of February—from games themed around Setsubun and Valentine’s Day, to exercises you can do while seated, and even “snowball fights” using newspaper.
These activities can spark nostalgic memories, naturally liven up conversations with those around you, and help you feel good by moving your body—offering lots of positive effects to look forward to.
Precisely because it’s a cold season, please enjoy heartwarming moments indoors with safe, fun activities!
- [For Seniors] Recommended Events for February: Fun Ideas to Fill Everyone with Smiles
- Recreation Ideas for Seniors: Perfect for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing Activities
- [For Seniors] Fun February Crafts: Ideas Inspired by Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Other Events
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- For Seniors: Wall Decorations to Brighten Up February — Festive Ideas for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, Plum Blossoms, and More
- [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 Winter Activities: Recreation and Games
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Lively! Entertainment Ideas for New Year’s Parties
- [For Seniors] Recommended February Snack Activities: Easy, Enjoyable Sweet Treat Ideas
- [For Seniors] Fun Brain Training! February-Themed Quiz
For Seniors: February Activities — Have Fun with Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Snow (71–80)
Setsubun decoration: holly and sardine (hiiragi-iwashi)
Hiiragi iwashi, displayed during Setsubun, has a distinctive look: a sardine head pierced onto a sprig of holly.
It’s said to ward off evil because demons dislike the smell and the prickly leaves.
Using this idea, you’ll make a sardine head, two holly leaves, and a stick.
For the sardine, fold an origami square into a triangle to make a crease, open it, then fold the two left edges to the center crease.
Use the opposing corners of the folded section to form the mouth, and shape the rest into the head.
For the leaves, take small origami squares, fold the diagonal corners to create a leaf shape, then accordion-fold to finish.
For the stick, cut a narrow strip of origami paper and fold it gatefold (both long edges in to meet at the center).
Setsubun! Oni head
Let’s decorate the February bulletin board using various parts.
In addition to ogre hair made from tissue paper and origami ogre pants, we’ll also make holly-and-sardine talismans, ofuda charms, and plum blossoms.
Crumple paper to add wrinkles for texture, open thin tissue paper sheet by sheet—these are easy crafts that also exercise fine motor skills.
Arrange the layout with the ogre hair as the main feature and decorate around it with the other parts.
Make the ogre hair in a variety of colors, and write “Oni wa soto” (Demons out) and “Fuku wa uchi” (Fortune in) on the ofuda.
Setsubun wreath made with yarn
In February, the first big event is Setsubun! To get ready for it, how about making a cute, cozy wreath using yarn? First, crumple about three tissues into a ball.
Wrap the ball with yarn in your favorite color to make a sphere.
If you want to make red or blue oni (ogres), use red or blue yarn; if you want to represent beans, use beige-toned yarn.
For the oni spheres, attach felt pieces to create the face and hair.
Make about eight spheres in the same way, arrange them in a wreath shape as you like, and glue them together with a hot glue gun.
Add decorations like plum blossoms if you like, attach a string to hang it on the wall, and you’re done.
Oni roly-poly doll
In February for Setsubun, let’s make an ogre-themed roly-poly toy.
Inflate a balloon to the size you want, then use diluted glue to stick torn pieces of shoji paper onto the surface.
Layer the paper so it’s three to five sheets thick, then brush on more glue and let it dry.
Once it’s completely dry, pop the balloon and drop some glue and a marble into the hollow shell to weight and fix it.
Finally, decorate it with hair and horns to make it look like an oni, and you’re done.
It takes time to dry, so it’s nice that you can enjoy the process at a relaxed pace.
Caramel Nuts with Setsubun Beans
Have you ever ended up with leftover beans from Setsubun? Caramel nuts made with Setsubun beans are perfect for times like that.
In fact, it’s a very simple recipe you can make with just a frying pan.
First, melt sugar and butter to make a caramel.
Next, coat the Setsubun beans, walnuts, almonds, and the like.
Then let it cool and set, and it quickly turns into a crispy, toasty snack.
The gentle sweetness and nutty bean aroma give it a nice Japanese touch.
It would go well with tea, too.
Oni-Extermination Ball Toss
When it comes to February, Setsubun is the standout event.
During Setsubun, people scatter beans to drive away demons (oni) and ward off evil spirits.
For those who are tired of the usual bean-throwing recreation, find the cleanup bothersome, or want something more like a game—this is for you! It’s an oni-busting ball toss where you aim and throw balls into the demon’s face, specifically its mouth.
There’s a hole in the mouth of a big-faced oni, so try to get the balls in there! Wearing an oni mask while playing would really boost the Setsubun atmosphere and make it even more fun.
baseball game
Whether or not you enjoyed baseball when you were young, why not try incorporating an easy-to-enjoy “baseball game” into your day-service recreation? It can be played while seated, so even those using wheelchairs can feel comfortable taking part.
For older adults, all they need to do is swing a plastic bat and hit a colored ball! You could set up zones like right, center, and left fields and assign points to make it more exciting.
It’s also a light form of exercise, so give it a try!
