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[Enjoyable for people with hemiplegia too] Participate while seated! Simple and fun recreation
You want to make rehabilitation for people with hemiplegia more effective while still having fun, right? This time, we’re introducing enjoyable, easy-to-try recreational activities.
There are plenty of options that get the body moving and bring smiles, such as the newspaper-rolling game, a cup-and-ball toy made from milk cartons, and finger exercises.
They can be enjoyed alone or with others, and the appeal is that you can continue at your own pace without overexertion.
You can expect various benefits, like improving finger dexterity and training balance.
Facility staff should ensure safety by staying nearby to supervise and support.
Try incorporating these into daily life to make functional recovery both fun and effective!
[Fun for People with Hemiplegia Too] Participate While Seated! Simple and Entertaining Recreations (1–10)
Paper Cup Curling
Let me introduce Paper Cup Curling.
Prepare some paper cups, marbles, and a sheet with point values, and let’s get started.
Attach the scoring sheet lengthwise to the table.
The key is to place the higher-point areas a bit farther away.
Participants sit in front of the scoring sheet, put a marble into a paper cup, and slide it forward with momentum.
Choose which score you want to aim for and slide the cup toward that target.
The person with the highest total score wins.
Experiment with how hard to push and how to slide the paper cup—good luck!
Rolling Table Tennis
Here’s an introduction to playing table tennis using pool noodles, which are also sold at 100-yen shops.
Pool noodles are soft, sponge-like sticks.
Although they’re originally used for swimming, their soft material and shape make them useful for all kinds of games.
This time, we’ll attach pool noodles to a table or cut them to a handheld length.
If you prepare a ping-pong ball, you can enjoy a version of table tennis you can play on a table.
Since everything used for this game is soft and lightweight, it should be easy for older adults to handle.
You simply roll the ball across the tabletop, so it doesn’t require much strength, which is another nice benefit.
Fluttering a vinyl sheet away with a hand fan
We’ll introduce a fun seated game using a fan: fluttering a plastic bag with a uchiwa.
Prepare a uchiwa (hand fan), a milk carton, beanbags, and a plastic bag, and let’s enjoy the game.
Put a beanbag inside the milk carton to give it stability so it won’t tip over.
Once you place the plastic bag over the top, the game begins.
Use the uchiwa to fan and knock the plastic bag off.
The first person to get it off wins.
It’s exciting even with a small group.
Once you get the hang of it, set a time limit to add a thrilling, suspenseful twist.
Parachute Game
Let me introduce a simple parachute game that’s easy to prepare.
Get some clothespins, a bag, and a target, and let’s have fun.
Clip a clothespin to the bottom of the bag to make a weight—your parachute is ready.
Throw the parachute toward the target.
The target has point values written on it, and you’ll add up your points.
The person with the highest score at the end wins.
It’s a parachute game everyone can enjoy together, so give it a try! It’s also a great way to spark conversation.
Stacking beanbags
This is a game where you toss beanbags and try to land them on a target without dropping them.
Because it uses light items like beanbags, people with hemiplegia can also participate.
Have older adults sit in chairs some distance away from the target.
Aim for the target and throw the beanbags.
You can use an empty bucket or a trash can turned upside down as the target.
Each person throws three beanbags, and the one who lands the most beanbags on the target wins.
The rules are simple, but it should be exciting.
As everyone gets used to the game, try making the target smaller.
It increases the difficulty, but it’s still fun.
clothespin tree
Let me introduce the Clothespin Tree.
Gather some beanbags and secure them to a pair of chopsticks, then clip clothespins onto the chopsticks in alternating positions.
If the structure topples or the chopsticks break when adding a clothespin, you lose.
The action of opening and closing clothespins also stimulates the brain.
For gameplay, preparing clothespins in various colors is recommended—you’ll end up with a colorful tree that’s visually enjoyable.
It’s a fun activity using familiar materials, and once your Clothespin Tree is complete, displaying it as a decoration can also spark conversation.
Milk carton kendama
Here’s a fun and safe kendama you can make from a milk carton.
Cut the milk carton to create the base of the kendama, hang a plastic string from it, and tie a beanbag to the end—that’s it! Using a beanbag on the end makes it safe even if it bumps into something.
In a kendama showdown, it might be fun to see how many seconds it takes each person to land a successful trick.
Once you get used to it, raise the difficulty by changing how you hold it and try landing the “reverse” kendama.
Decorating the milk carton to make it your own is also recommended.