[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games
January brings cold winds and a lingering chill in the air.
Here are some recommended recreational activities and games for older adults that are perfect for January.
We’ve gathered many options that can be enjoyed in a warm indoor setting!
As the weather gets colder, people tend to move less—so let’s get the body moving through games!
And of course, January means New Year’s.
New Year-themed activities and games might help older adults recall fond memories of the games they played in their childhood.
Enjoy a fun time with January-themed recreation while sparking lively conversations.
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- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
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- Snacks and activity ideas for seniors to enjoy in January
- [For Seniors] January Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts. Brain training with quizzes about New Year and winter.
- [For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
[For Seniors] January Activities & Recreation Games (41–50)
Beanbag Tower
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.
[For Seniors] January Activities & Recreation Games (51–60)
Shimenawa wreath making
Let us introduce a New Year’s shimenawa wreath craft you can really feel the season with! It’s an easy wreath you can make using newspaper.
Roll up the newspaper to form a wreath shape, then wrap it with layers of origami paper or crepe paper.
Next, make the fan piece and attach it to finish.
Using tools and choosing paper colors helps promote hand exercise and cognitive training.
It brings a sense of the season, and completing your handmade shimenawa wreath will also give a sense of accomplishment.
For older adults who find it difficult to use scissors and other tools, prepare the pre-cut materials in advance.
Sugoroku game
Starting in the New Year, we’d like to introduce a “Sugoroku game” that seniors can enjoy! It’s a game where everyone designs the squares together and works on activities like exercises and arithmetic while aiming for the goal.
In winter, we tend to stay indoors as our bodies feel the cold, but because Sugoroku is played with multiple people, it can also foster sociability and cooperation.
Plus, by incorporating physical movements into the squares, you’ll warm up your body and improve muscle strength.
Many participants will surely look forward to prizes at the finish line, too.
Be sure to enjoy it together with seniors!
Kite-Flying Exercises
Kite-Flying Exercises are routines that move the body by mimicking the hand motions of flying a kite.
Because they engage the whole body, they’re an effective recreational activity for alleviating a lack of exercise.
But there are many benefits beyond simply imitating the movements.
When recalling the motions of kite flying, many people also remember times they flew kites with friends or family.
Reviving these memories helps stimulate the brain.
In addition to kite-flying motions, you can incorporate movements that evoke a kite dancing in the sky, allowing for a wide variety of exercise variations!
Balloon holder bag with a string
Here’s a string-and-balloon game that’s sure to liven up spring events and gatherings.
Have several older adults sit in chairs facing each other, each holding one end of a string so that paired participants are connected and keep the string taut.
By moving the string up and down or sliding it side to side, they work together to carry a balloon to the goal.
Cooperation is key in this game.
Because participants call out to each other as they play, it naturally encourages communication as well.
Strikeout
Strikeout is a game where you throw a ball at targets labeled with numbers.
In addition to being expected to help with arm exercise, strikeout is also said to strengthen the core.
By training your core, your body’s balance becomes more stable, which can help prevent falls.
It’s a game where you knock down numbered targets, so you can have fun while getting a workout.
Since it’s a lively game that many people can enjoy together, it would be great to include it in an April cherry-blossom viewing recreation.
How about making the targets not with numbers, but with illustrations or photos related to cherry-blossom viewing?
mini-golf
Although it’s spring on the calendar, many of us may still be spending a lot of time in warm indoor spaces.
So this time, we’d like to introduce an indoor putting golf game.
All you need is cardboard and a ball.
Cut various sizes of holes in a flattened piece of cardboard and write in the point values.
To make the game more exciting, assign fewer points to larger holes and higher points to smaller holes.
Once you place the cardboard on the floor, just roll the ball as you would in golf.
You can use a racket, or even a cane you’re comfortable with.
With simple preparation, it’s fun even with a small group, and it’s also effective for improving concentration.
