[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!
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- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- [For Seniors] Recommended Even for People with Dementia! Simple Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Introducing Recreational Activities Anyone Can Enjoy at Geriatric Health Facilities!
- [For Seniors] Core Training: Recommended Simple Rehabilitation
- Hand games that liven things up for seniors—also great brain training
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- [For Seniors] A roundup of games using disposable chopsticks: Chopstick activities that also support rehabilitation
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- Enjoy a Comfortable Hospital Stay! Fun Pastime Activities Recommended for Seniors
[Fun for People with Hemiplegia Too] Participate While Seated! Simple and Entertaining Recreations (1–10)
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.
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.
[Fun for People with Hemiplegia Too] Participate While Seated! Simple and Entertaining Recreations (11–20)
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.
Color-coded ring picking
The “color-sorted ring pickup” made from newspaper and construction paper is a recreational activity that helps build skills while having fun.
It’s a game where you use a stick to pick up rings and sort them by color, training concentration and hand movements.
It’s also appealing because it’s easy to prepare with familiar materials.
Using the stick helps with hand practice, and the sorting task engages the mind.
Picking up colorful rings sounds very exciting.
I think it’s a wonderful activity that allows everyone to enjoy rehabilitation together while getting energized.
Why not give it a try with everyone?
Stacking paper cups
Here’s a cup-stacking game that boosts finger strength and concentration.
Get some paper cups and clothespins ready and have fun.
Use the clothespins to stack the paper cups.
Whoever stacks five cups before their opponent wins.
The key is the grip strength you use to open and close the clothespins while stacking.
Once you get used to it, try setting a time limit or playing in teams for an extra challenge.
It’s a game you can enjoy over and over, so give it a try!
Turtle scooping
Here’s a turtle scooping activity that also helps practice finger and wrist movements.
Prepare turtles made from construction paper, protected with lamination, and attach a plastic bottle cap to the back of each one.
Using a ladle to scoop the turtles is recommended.
Try scooping the turtles placed inside a box.
The bottle cap on the back makes them a bit unstable, which is part of the fun.
If using a ladle is too difficult, feel free to scoop with your hands—be flexible so everyone can enjoy it.
It might get lively, just like goldfish scooping at a festival.