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: Get Excited with Setsubun, Valentine's Day, and Snow (111–120)
ball rec
Recreational activities that use soft, lightweight balls are recommended for older adults.
Throwing and catching the ball engages various physical and sensory abilities such as muscle strength, grip strength, and dynamic visual acuity.
Simply touching a ball that can roll or be squeezed is also enjoyable for its tactile feel.
This is said to have beneficial effects on the brain as well.
There are ball-based activities that can be done while seated in a chair, making them accessible to many seniors.
Have the participants sit in a circle and pass the ball forward and backward.
If someone can stand steadily, have them walk to the side and hand the ball to the person next to them.
This helps improve core balance.
Popcorn Game
Even if you know that moving your body is good for your health, you might still feel reluctant to get active.
So here’s a fun popcorn game that lets you exercise your feet while enjoying yourself.
Sit in a chair and place paper plates on both knees.
Fill the plates with lots of crumpled-up paper balls.
Think of the paper plates as frying pans and the crumpled paper as popcorn for the game.
When someone says, “Ready, start!”, flutter your legs and march your feet to shake the paper popcorn out of the plates.
Watching the crumpled paper fall from the plates looks just like popcorn popping in a heated frying pan.
Because it’s an exercise you can do like a game, it seems like older adults can enjoy participating too.
Recommended for class activities! Draw your favorite demon
When you think of events in February, Setsubun probably comes to mind.
And when you think of Setsubun, you think of oni (ogres).
How about making unique oni crafts as a recreation activity? Staff can prepare the base parts in advance, such as the oni’s face, horns, and hair.
The rest can be drawn or decorated by the seniors, resulting in oni full of each person’s creativity.
Oni with one or two horns, or even a one-eyed oni—each one uniquely made by the participants.
When these oni are displayed on the facility walls and brighten up the rooms, some seniors may feel the season and grow fond of them.
It’s a project that enhances the Setsubun spirit and brings enjoyment.
Warm-Body Exercises
February, when the cold really sets in, can leave you feeling chilled even indoors.
Why not try some toasty warm-up exercises that help warm the bodies of older adults in senior facilities or day services? Once you’ve finished preparatory stretches to loosen up, start the routine.
Progress in order—from mouth-movement exercises, to ankle mobility, to scapula (shoulder blade) exercises—to gradually warm up the body.
After working the waist/hip area and down to the feet, finish with deep breathing.
By trying these easy, seated exercises, you can raise your body temperature and also expect training benefits.
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the ball-toss game often seen at school sports festivals.
Some older adults may have taken part in sports days and played tamaire in the past.
Here’s a perfect tamaire activity for a warm April day to get the body moving.
Because it’s a familiar game, it can help older adults refresh their mood and relieve stress.
Have participants sit in chairs and place a basket in the center.
Prepare red, white, and other colored balls, and have the participants throw them into the basket.
The person who gets the most balls in the basket wins.
Throwing with the arms and shoulders also provides upper-body exercise.
Ball Grabbing Game
Let’s play a game where you grab balls using newspaper.
All the tools used in the game are made from newspaper.
Make the balls by crumpling newspaper into a sphere, and make the grabbing sticks out of newspaper as well.
You can create everything you need for the game using everyday materials.
Place several balls inside a circle, grab them with the stick, and put them into a basket.
If you set a time limit, the game gets more exciting.
Forming teams and competing for the best time will make it even more fun.
Setsubun Newspaper Bean-Throwing Game
February, when the cold is at its peak.
Why not try a seasonal newspaper bean-throwing game? This is a recreation activity tailored for Setsubun.
First, hand out newspapers, tear them into pieces, and crumple them into “beans.” The beans can be any size—large or small.
This process also serves as a finger and hand exercise.
Next, set up a box with an oni (demon) face on it and have participants throw the beans into it.
You can make it a point-based game by competing to see who gets the most beans in the box, which is sure to liven things up.
Or, everyone can work together to fill the box with beans.
