[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games

Making kadomatsu (traditional New Year’s pine decorations)

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll ‘Kadomatsu’: Easy New Year’s Craft

Because pine and bamboo endure poor soil and continue to thrive, they have long been considered auspicious plants.

There is also a saying, “Pines vow for a thousand years, and bamboo for ten thousand,” and with the wish that the dwelling place of the gods will continue forever, they were chosen as materials for kadomatsu.

How about former carpenters and craftspersons joining forces to make kadomatsu together? I imagine local kindergartens and senior facilities might also be places that need large kadomatsu.

Or, for a change of pace, it could be nice to make mini kadomatsu out of thick paper or small bamboo! I think it would make a very fitting recreational activity for January and the New Year season.

Sugoroku

[Elderly Recreation] Rec-Craftsman Series Part 174: “Arranged Sugoroku”

Sugoroku is a board game in which you roll dice and move your piece along the squares according to the number rolled, aiming to reach the goal.

This traditional pastime, dating back to the Edo period, is something you naturally want to play at least once during the New Year holidays.

Store-bought versions are nice, but making your own and getting creative with the text on the squares is also a lot of fun.

It’s also great that any number of people can play.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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January coloring pages

Speaking of January, although it’s not seen much these days, there used to be a custom of displaying decorative hagoita paddles, such as ones featuring the Fuji Musume.

Let’s try making such decorative hagoita as a coloring activity.

The act of coloring and choosing which colors to use has a very positive effect on the hands and the brain.

You might even discover an unexpected side of older adults through their use of color and the finished result.

A neatly colored piece also looks lovely displayed on the wall.

Let’s awaken the creativity we don’t often use in everyday life.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Shoo Away Game

Hands full—lol! ✋😂 So much fun and excitement! #dayserviceRecreation #elderly #rec #shorts #dementiaPrevention

Let’s play a fun game using balls made from crumpled paper.

It’s called the “Shoo-It-Away Game.” Crumple up sheets of paper or newspaper into balls and place them in a horizontal line in the center of the table.

Before you start, put a strip of tape across the middle of the table to mark the center line.

This tape divides the table into your side and your opponent’s side.

When the game begins, use your hands to push the paper balls into your opponent’s territory on the opposite side.

The rules are simple, but it sounds like it could get exciting.

If you make the paper balls pink, they’ll look like cherry blossoms—perfect for an April game.

It also encourages conversation among participants and can help promote communication among older adults.

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Nakajima Junko

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Beanbag Tower

Senior recreation! Everyone’s hooked! Beanbag tower!! #shorts #seniorRecreation #dayService #recreation #heartwarming #hilarious #beanbag

Many older adults may have played with beanbags when they were young.

Some may have also played beanbag games with their own children or grandchildren.

Here’s a game that uses those beanbags to build a tower.

The rules are simple: compete to see how many beanbags you can stack on top of an upside-down paper cup.

By holding and stacking the beanbags, you can expect to improve or maintain fine motor balance and concentration.

You can focus and play on your own, or make it a team competition for extra excitement.

If you like, please give it a try.

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Nakajima Junko

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