For Seniors: Fun Activities in February — Celebrate Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Snow

Setsubun: Oni (ogre) and Otafuku (good-fortune woman)

[Setsubun Decorations] February: Easy Origami Oni (Demon) and Otafuku for Setsubun [Simple Craft] Setsubun

Let’s make origami featuring the essential oni (ogre) motif for Setsubun and the otafuku (good-luck woman) motif to emphasize a celebratory mood.

For the oni motif, use triangular creases as guides and shape it while keeping the horns in mind.

For the otafuku, make good use of the white reverse side, rounding it off while aiming for a cute look.

By choosing different colors of origami paper and drawing various facial expressions, you can create your own unique Setsubun decorations.

It’s also recommended to finish it off gorgeously by mounting them on a base like a lace paper doily.

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Quick brain training, “Ready, set!” game

No prep needed for senior recreation or props! Simple and exciting! Ready, set, go! Game

Here’s a simple brain-training game you can do while seated, with no prior preparation.

Pair up in twos.

When one person calls out a number—like “Ready, five!”—both of you raise your hands or feet.

If the total number of raised hands and feet matches the number that was called, you’re correct.

You can make it more game-like by intentionally raising more hands or feet to throw off your partner’s guess, and enjoy training your brain as you play.

It also helps to create a cheerful atmosphere where mistakes lead to laughter.

Since raising hands and feet doubles as light exercise, try it together with older adults.

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Paper cup drop

Insanely Hard Paper Cup Drop lol [Senior Recreation]

Here’s a game using paper cups.

Line up the paper cups in a row.

Use the lined-up cups as targets and have older adults throw a ball at them from a short distance away.

Depending on where you set up the cups, the goal is to throw the ball so that the cups tip over or fall to the floor.

Even if they don’t hit the cups perfectly, it’s likely to spark laughter and provide a nice change of pace.

It can also encourage conversation with others and help expand social interaction among older adults.

Paper cups are sold at 100-yen shops, so preparation is easy.

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Bean-Throwing Game

Setsubun: Make an Oni and Bean-Throwing Game

For Setsubun, bean throwing to drive away demons and bad things is essential, and expressing your wishes through movement and voice can also raise health awareness.

This idea adds a game-like element to that important Setsubun tradition to make wishing for good health more fun.

The base materials are a paper plate and paper cups: use the paper plate to make an oni (demon) by attaching origami or yarn, then set it on paper cups marked with point values.

Line them up, throw beans, and compete for points.

It’s a game that naturally focuses attention on controlling strength—figuring out how to throw to aim for higher scores.

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Chair exercises in February

[For Seniors] Japanese February Chair Exercises - Teacher Gobō

Chair exercises can be done while seated, making them a recreation activity that even older adults who find standing difficult can participate in.

This time, we’ll introduce chair movements themed for February.

In the cold season, it’s easy to feel reluctant to move your body.

Let’s help older adults enjoy moving by imagining snowballs, plum blossoms, and skiing.

We’ll activate not only the muscles used in daily life but also those that aren’t used as often.

Doing so helps maintain and improve muscle strength and overall fitness.

Please give it a try!

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Candy box

[Craft] Valentine’s Day Project – Candy Box

For those seeking creative entertainment, making a candy box will offer a fulfilling time.

Before you begin, prepare the necessary tools such as origami paper, ribbons, scissors, and glue.

Crafting by hand is fun, isn’t it? Adding a message to your finished, handmade candy box will make it an even more heartfelt gift.

In this recreational activity that turns shared time into something meaningful, seniors take the lead, deepening communication with one another and creating heartwarming pieces.

It’s sure to be a lovely time filled with smiles.

Heart gift box

Easy, no pattern needed! How to make a lidded heart gift box (Valentine’s) – How to Make a Heart Gift Box With a Lid

Let’s make a heart-shaped gift box that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day to express your gratitude to someone special.

The process involves shaping thin strips of construction paper into a heart, attaching them, and cutting to complete one side.

It’s important to fold back the side pieces to make them easier to glue, and to make sure the two hearts are different sizes so the lid can close properly.

You can add originality by choosing the overall colors and deciding on decorations.

Please proceed with the project while discussing ideas with the older adults.

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