Recreation Activities to Liven Up January Events for Seniors
January is full of traditional, time-honored events.
It’s wonderful that the spirit of treasuring the start of a new year has been passed down for so long.
In this article, we introduce recreational activities to liven up January events for older adults! Many care facilities, such as day service centers, likely have annual events they hold every year.
If you’re thinking, “I’d like to add a new game this year,” you’ll find plenty of recreation ideas here to use as a reference.
Some are easy to try, so you can enjoy them at home as well.
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[For Seniors] Recreational Activities to Liven Up January Events (51–60)
Ogiri (Japanese improv-style comedy wordplay game)
Since it’s New Year’s, how about holding a comic improv contest with the theme of “first laugh”? When it comes to comic improv, the TV show “Shoten” is famous: the host presents a prompt, and the panelists respond with clever, pun-filled answers—basically a game of witty one-liners.
It tests humor and quick thinking, so it could be perfect as brain training for seniors.
If you feel that doing an improv contest among amateurs is a bit daunting, you might consider inviting a rakugo storyteller or a comedian, or asking students from a local university’s rakugo club to come and help!
first calligraphy of the year
Kakizome is a New Year’s tradition that has continued since the Heian period.
Many people probably wrote one every year in elementary school.
Some may think it has to be written in kanji, but in fact there isn’t a strict definition.
It can be characters or pictures.
There’s also a saying that what you write will improve, or that the wishes you put into it will come true, so keep that in mind.
First, try writing anything you like.
By the way, it’s common to ceremonially burn the kakizome paper by January 15.
Please use this as a reference.
poetry karuta
For older adults, talking and singing are very effective for maintaining oral functions! A group recreation everyone can enjoy is “Uta Karuta” (Song Karuta).
Use the song titles as the grabbing cards and the lyrics as the reading cards.
Have facility staff sing the reading cards.
If singing is difficult, playing the music is fine too.
We recommend selecting mainly familiar Showa-era songs.
It’s also wonderful to share memories related to the songs! Please make good use of this for New Year’s activities and events.
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the ball-toss game often seen at school sports festivals.
Some older adults may have taken part in sports days and played tamaire in the past.
Here’s a perfect tamaire activity for a warm April day to get the body moving.
Because it’s a familiar game, it can help older adults refresh their mood and relieve stress.
Have participants sit in chairs and place a basket in the center.
Prepare red, white, and other colored balls, and have the participants throw them into the basket.
The person who gets the most balls in the basket wins.
Throwing with the arms and shoulders also provides upper-body exercise.
[For Seniors] Recreational Activities to Liven Up January Events (61–70)
Kadomatsu
Let’s make a kadomatsu mascot—an ornament that brightens up the entrance for New Year’s—by combining pieces of origami.
Roll green origami paper into tubes, cut them at an angle to create bamboo, line them up as the base, and then add various decorations.
Since having “pine, bamboo, and plum” together is an essential element of a kadomatsu, keep that in mind as you aim for an auspicious look.
Although it has a three-dimensional appearance, it’s made from origami, so it’s great not only as a tabletop ornament but also as a wall decoration.
Hagoita making
Hagoita paddles are a classic New Year’s ornament and decoration, aren’t they? They’re believed to ward off evil and wish for good health, and are traditionally given to babies for their first New Year.
The decorations that extend beyond the board evoke the fun and lively atmosphere of the New Year.
There’s complete freedom in how you decorate a hagoita, so why not use the board’s shape as a base and add your own personal touches? You can certainly make one as an ornament, but if you create it with the idea of giving it to someone, you may find it even more meaningful and enjoyable to make.
Bozu Mekuri
Many families may have gathered with relatives during the New Year to play Hyakunin Isshu together.
While Hyakunin Isshu is a game that people of all ages can enjoy, you can’t really play it unless you’ve memorized the poems.
That’s why a popular alternative, even for those who don’t know the poems, is a game called Bōzu Mekuri.
You place the picture cards from Hyakunin Isshu face down as a draw pile, and each player takes turns drawing one card.
If the card shows a man, you keep it in your hand; if it shows a monk, you must discard all the cards in your hand; and if it shows a woman, you can take all the discarded cards into your hand.
The player with the most cards at the end wins.
There are also many detailed local rules, so you can make the game even more exciting with different variations.
In conclusion
Engaging in activities that evoke a sense of nostalgia can also be a great opportunity to deepen connections with family and friends. Choose options that suit your condition—from things you can try while seated to more active, physical activities. It’s also a good idea to set your goals for the year when making ema plaques or doing your first calligraphy of the year. Incorporating quizzes and games themed around Showa-era pop songs and films can make for a fun event. If you’re looking for event ideas with a January theme, be sure to try some of these suggestions.