[For Seniors] Hinamatsuri Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack Making
How about some recreation ideas for older adults to enjoy during the Hinamatsuri season? We’ve handpicked ideas that naturally get the mind and body moving while having fun—such as seated games like target practice and bowling with Hina-doll motifs, shell matching, enjoyable crafts for display, and seasonal snack activities.
These special, season-only events provide positive stimulation for physical and cognitive functions in older adults.
Enjoy time filled with smiles while chatting with those around you.
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[For Seniors] Hinamatsuri Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack-Making (91–100)
Makimaki Apple Game
Let me introduce a recreation activity that makes great use of the hands and wrists: the Rolling Apple Game.
Attach a stick to a sheet of paper with tape, and place an apple on the paper.
Your goal is to bring the apple to your feet using only the motion of winding the stick—pulling is not allowed, so the winding action is key.
You need to use your fingertips and wrists, and if you wind too fast the apple will fall off, so you must decide whether to prioritize speed or focus on keeping the apple from falling.
Watching the apple make its way toward you is fun in itself, so spectators can’t help but cheer.
It’s enjoyable while also training the fingers and hands, making it a great recommendation for recreational activities in senior facilities.
Kick Darts
This is a game where you sit in a chair and kick a beanbag into the air, aiming to land it on a high-scoring area of the dartboard in front of you.
It helps develop the leg strength needed to send the beanbag to a distant dartboard and the ability to control force to reach the target spot.
The farther the dartboard is, the more power is required, so have participants try at distances suited to their stamina and muscle strength.
If you run it as a face-to-face match, players will likely focus even more as they try to beat their opponent.
[For Seniors] Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack-Making (101–110)
Sheet Valley
Let’s play Seat Volleyball using sunshades sold at 100-yen stores.
It’s a game that many older adults can enjoy.
Connect two sunshades to make a volleyball court.
Have seated older adults hold the two connected sunshades.
Roll a beach volleyball on top of the sunshades.
Before starting, use tape or similar to mark territories on the sunshades.
When the time limit is up, the side where the ball is located loses.
With gameplay similar to real volleyball, older adults are likely to enjoy it.
Since it can be played while seated, many older participants should be able to join.
Whac-A-Mole game
Moles, which usually live underground, also pop their heads out in spring, don’t they? When you think of spring, some people might even say “moles.” How about a whack-a-mole game as a recreation for the Doll’s Festival? You can easily enjoy whack-a-mole using paper cups and chopsticks.
Let’s draw moles on the paper cups.
If the seniors each draw their favorite faces, you’ll end up with lots of uniquely charming moles! You can make the hammer by fixing a chopstick to a paper cup.
When the signal to start is given, let’s whack the moles with the hammer! It’s sure to turn into a heated and fun competition!
Ehomaki Game
Let’s turn the ehomaki we eat on Setsubun into a game.
Ehomaki are filled with lots of ingredients, right? On top of paper “nori” and “rice,” place ingredients made from long, thin strips of construction paper or fabric.
The key is to prepare colors that look like real ehomaki fillings, such as red and green.
Then, using both hands, roll it up as if you were making a real sushi roll.
When it’s finished, face the lucky direction for that year and take a big bite.
This idea of making ehomaki from paper or fabric seems like something older adults would also enjoy.
It’s a perfect game to do in February.
Hina-arare passing relay
Many eldercare facilities may be planning Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival) events in March.
Here’s a recommended game for large-group recreational activities.
Using an otama (ladle), participants scoop and relay Hinamatsuri rice crackers (hina-arare).
You can use real hina-arare, but considering they might be dropped, it could be better to use paper versions.
First, a staff member scoops the hina-arare with the ladle, passes them to an older adult, and the group transports them in relay format.
If you have a large group, turning it into a team competition will make it even more exciting.
It’s a seated game, so people who use wheelchairs or have difficulty standing can also participate.
Hinamatsuri Balance Game
Here’s an introduction to a fun game that lets you enjoy edge-of-your-seat excitement while keeping everything balanced.
Prepare a setup by placing a sheet of paper on top of a paper tube made by rolling up a sheet of paper.
On the top sheet, carefully place one piece each of the Emperor and Empress figures themed for Hinamatsuri, arranging them with balance in mind.
Because you have to think as you place each piece, it can also serve as brain training.
It can be played on a table, so you can enjoy it while seated.
It seems suitable for many older adults to try.
Try making the tube by rolling construction paper, and create a small platform for the pieces using Japanese-patterned origami.