When it comes to July traditions, Tanabata immediately comes to mind.
How about incorporating Tanabata-themed activities as a way to enjoy July? There are plenty of lively ideas, such as games inspired by Orihime and Hikoboshi and star-toss games.
In addition to games, we also introduce craft projects like bamboo decorations and tanzaku wish strips.
Working together on Tanabata-themed activities and crafts will warm everyone’s hearts.
Spend a joyful summer moment full of smiles together with older adults.
- [For Seniors] July Events: Recommended Recreation Ideas for Senior Facilities
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- [For Seniors] Enjoy and Beat the Summer Heat! July Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced
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- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Refresh Your Mood! Lively, Get-Moving Games
- [For Seniors] Recreations to Experience in August
- [For Seniors] June-Themed Activities: Recommended Recreation and Game Collection
- [For Seniors] Fun Activities That Liven Up Cool Evening Festivals and Summer Festivals
- [For Seniors] Fun Brain Training! Lively Whiteboard Activities
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
Tanabata Recreation (1–10)
Shooting Star Catch GameNEW!
It’s a game where you compete to see how many shooting stars sliding down from the Milky Way you can catch.
You can probably make the Milky Way and the shooting stars yourself using cardboard, colored construction paper, origami paper, and raffia ribbon.
You can use any tool to catch the shooting stars, but if it has depth, the difficulty will be easier, while a flat tool will make it harder because the stars will fall off the edges.
Try making stars in various colors and sizes and have fun! It’s also a great idea to assign different points to each star and compete by total score!
Making tanzaku (paper strips)NEW!
On Tanabata, we decorate bamboo branches with tanzaku slips bearing our wishes.
I’m sure many of you, as children, freely and boldly asked the gods for what you wanted.
So let’s have older adults enjoy making Tanabata tanzaku as well.
The slips themselves are easy to make using colored construction paper or origami paper.
Have them write whatever they like on them.
As adults, we rarely have chances to write down our wishes, so it might feel fresh and engaging.
It will also be fun to see what everyone wishes for!
I’m coming to see you now – Tanabata Curling GameNEW!
@hirose_ds TranslationElderlyRecreationTanabata#2020Hikoboshi-goTanabata decorationsHandmade
♬ Ishindenshin – ORANGE RANGE
Speaking of Tanabata, it’s the day when Orihime and Hikoboshi reunite—their romantic story really heightens the excitement for the event, doesn’t it? This is a game inspired by Hikoboshi making his way to Orihime, where you test how close you can get to the target from your starting position.
You roll a wheel-fitted piece forward from your spot, and the closer it stops to the target, the higher your score.
There’s also a key rule that going beyond a certain line is out, so judge carefully how much force to use as you play.
Star Toss Showdown
If you’re looking for a Tanabata-themed recreation activity for seniors, how about “Star Flick Battle”? In this game, you place many star-shaped paper cutouts on a table and use uchiwa fans to blow them toward the opponent’s side.
The team that gets the most stars into the other side’s territory wins.
It’s a seated activity, so it’s also reassuringly safe.
Milky Way GameNEW!
The “Milky Way Game” is a game inspired by Tanabata, when Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet only once a year.
Stick star shapes on paper to create the Milky Way, and decorate paper cups to make Orihime and Hikoboshi.
Put a ball inside each paper cup, then have players take turns sliding-throwing them toward the Milky Way.
If both cups successfully stop on the Milky Way, you win.
If either one goes off the Milky Way, you lose—in other words, the two couldn’t meet.
It’s also recommended to play in pairs among participants.
Tanabata Ball Rolling GameNEW!
@seasoncafe.yokohama TranslationDay care (elderly day service)RecreationTanabataElderlyCaregivertranslationMilky Way#CardboardCrafts
♬ Moana: How Far I’ll Go: Main Theme – Geek Music
This is a game where you roll a ball along a course designed to look like the Milky Way, aiming for the goal.
Use the handles to tilt the course left, right, up, and down to move the ball forward.
Be careful where there are no edges, as the ball can fall off.
At the goal, Orihime and Hikoboshi are waiting with smiles.
Between them is an illustration of an embrace, and when the ball reaches the goal, that section closes to create the effect that Orihime and Hikoboshi are reunited.
The course is made of cardboard, and I think the handles can be recreated with materials from a 100-yen shop.
Tanabata ConcentrationNEW!
@user2230836748136 Tanabata recreationConcentrationCaregiving Artisan
♬ Chu,Tayousei. – ano
Perfect for brain training too! Let’s enjoy “Concentration” in a Tanabata version.
While playing Concentration with playing cards is common, this time we’ll make original cards using construction paper.
Cut the paper into star shapes and attach Tanabata-themed illustrations like Orihime, Hikoboshi, bamboo leaves, and the Milky Way.
If you’re playing with older adults, it’s a good idea to make the cards larger and add numbers to make them easier to remember.
It could also be fun to set a rule that anyone who finds Orihime and Hikoboshi consecutively wins and is out at that point.