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 (131–140)
Rock-Paper-Scissors Oni Island
Speaking of motifs related to Setsubun, we think of oni (demons), and when it comes to stories featuring oni, Momotaro comes to mind—so this is a game that depicts a battle between Momotaro and the oni.
It’s a team-based competitive game divided into Team Momotaro and Team Oni, and you advance using rock-paper-scissors and dice.
The teams play rock-paper-scissors; the winning team rolls a die and reduces the total health of the opposing team’s characters by the number shown.
You win by depleting the health of all opposing characters.
The losing team draws a card and performs the exercise specified.
Because each character has separate health, players are encouraged to think about how to allocate damage, making it a game that also gets everyone moving even when they lose.
chocolate mizu-yokan (chocolate sweet red bean jelly)
Chocolate is an essential item for Valentine’s Day, isn’t it? Let’s combine that chocolate with familiar mizu-yokan (a chilled red bean jelly) and give it a try.
Add agar to water and bring it to a boil, then add smooth red bean paste (koshian).
Once the paste has dissolved, add crushed store-bought chocolate and mix thoroughly.
Next, add heavy cream, let it cool slightly, pour into containers, and chill until set—done.
Adjust the sweetness by choosing different types of red bean paste and chocolate, and aim for a health-conscious flavor—this is the key point.
Heart decoration craft
Heart shapes are an essential motif for Valentine’s Day—the more of them you have, the stronger the happy atmosphere.
Here’s a decoration that really conveys that joy, made by linking hearts out of origami.
Cut the origami paper into thin strips and fold each strip in half to make a center crease, then gently curl both sides so they mirror each other.
Glue the two curved ends together to form a heart.
Insert the next heart into the indentation at the top of the previous one, and continue attaching them to create a chain of hearts.
You can keep the color consistent for a unified look or mix various colors for a vibrant finish—use color to add your own originality.
Ehomaki Game
Speaking of Setsubun, it’s all about biting into an ehomaki while facing the lucky direction for the year! Let’s play a game that uses the motion of rolling ehomaki to give the brain just the right amount of stimulation.
Lay out ingredients like cucumber, salmon, and egg—made by cutting construction paper into thin strips—on a damp towel that stands in for vinegared rice.
Carefully roll up the towel so the ingredients don’t stick out, wrap it with a strip of black construction paper as the seaweed, and secure it with a rubber band—done! Compete as sushi chefs to see how many rolls you can complete within the time limit, and have everyone join the race!
Furoshiki bag making
These days, it’s becoming common to carry reusable shopping bags.
Still, many of us often forget them.
That’s when a furoshiki comes in handy.
By tying the corners, you can turn a furoshiki into a bag.
Since February 23 is Furoshiki Day, how about learning together how to make furoshiki bags? There seem to be several ways to make them, with different tying methods depending on what you want to carry.
Teaching someone else would surely make them happy, too.
Oni and Bean-Throwing
Why not try bean-throwing with older adults, shouting the cheerful phrase, “Demons out! Good fortune in!”? Bean-throwing (mamemaki) is a ritual in which illnesses and disasters that come with seasonal changes are symbolized as demons and driven away.
Have staff members play the role of the demons, and invite the older adults to throw beans at them.
Some participants may recall the bean-throwing they did when they were young, or with their children or grandchildren.
It could spark lively reminiscing.
And through mamemaki, we also hope they can feel the changing seasons.
Good fortune tea
This is a wonderfully warming recreation that’s perfect for the cold winter.
Let me introduce fukucha, a tea made using beans from Setsubun.
On February 3rd, saying “Out with the demons, in with good fortune” is great, but enjoying it in this more adult way is nice too.
You can make it even more enjoyable by arranging the tea with additions like plum or kelp!
In conclusion
How did you enjoy February-only activities like the Setsubun Ehomaki game and the bean-throwing exercise? It’s a season when the cold often keeps us from moving our bodies, which is all the more reason to spend time warming both body and soul while savoring the seasonal atmosphere.
In addition to games and exercises, let’s incorporate a wide range of activities—like snack-time events and quizzes—and get through the cold season cheerfully and with fun!