[For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation
March, when it gradually gets warmer, is a season that lifts our spirits as we feel the signs of spring.
Why not incorporate seasonal activities into recreational programs to enjoy with older adults? We’ve gathered ideas full of seasonal flair—from games and crafts themed around spring icons like cherry blossoms, butterflies, and bamboo shoots, to snack-time activities that spark the appetite with sweet aromas, and even music sessions that make you want to move.
Many can be done while seated or prepared with familiar, easy-to-get materials, so be sure to try them in your daily recreation programs.
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[For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreations (31–40)
Plum Blossom Made with Origami
March is the season when our spirits lift as spring draws near.
Many flowers bloom in spring, but plum blossoms reach their best a bit earlier, from February to March.
How about making adorable plum blossoms out of origami to welcome spring a little ahead of time? Plum blossoms have five petals, so you start by cutting the origami paper into a pentagon and then folding it.
There are quite a few steps to follow and some detailed work involved, but moving your fingers is great brain training, so it’s highly recommended.
Assistance is needed for the parts where you use scissors to make cuts.
shell matching game
The elegant game known as kai-awase has been passed down since the Heian period.
It typically uses clams (hamaguri) whose left and right shells have matching patterns.
The shells are divided into right shells called jigai and left shells called degai.
Players try to find the degai with the same pattern as each jigai, and whoever finds the most matches wins! Because this game appears in historical dramas and period pieces, older adults may be familiar with it.
It’s easy for anyone to play as long as you have the shells, so why not give it a try after enjoying a delicious hamaguri meal?
White Day Buffet Rec
A White Day buffet recreation is a wonderful idea.
It sounds like it would be an elegant time that seniors can enjoy as well.
By preparing a variety of sweets and light snacks, everyone can have fun choosing as they go.
It might also be nice to bring homemade treats to share.
Just looking at the colorful desserts is enjoyable, isn’t it? Spending time savoring delicious food while chatting together in a friendly, lively atmosphere—this will surely become a heartwarming and lovely memory.
It seems like it will be a delightful recreation filled with smiles from the seniors.
Hinamatsuri ring toss
“Hina Ring Toss” is a game that combines hina dolls and ring toss! You throw rings made of paper or other materials at targets modeled after the hina dolls displayed on a seven-tier stand, and compete for points individually or in teams.
If you use a rule where any doll a ring lands on gets placed on the tiered stand, the number of targets gradually decreases, naturally increasing the difficulty.
Another recommended rule is to arrange the targets on papers labeled with point values, so the score changes depending on where the ring lands.
By adding seasonal twists like this, even classic games can be enjoyed in new ways.
Korokoro Pon Game
Here’s a tabletop game that uses balls.
Prepare balls of different sizes, such as ping-pong balls or rubber balls about the size of a fist.
An older adult rolls a ball from one end of the table.
On the opposite side of the table from where the older adult is rolling, hang a basket.
The game is to roll the ball and get it into this basket.
It can be played while seated, so it seems suitable for older adults who use wheelchairs as well.
Moments like “It almost went in but didn’t!” are likely to make it exciting for the participants.
[For Seniors] Enjoy March: Activities, Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation (41–50)
Whac-A-Mole game
Even moles that usually live underground pop their heads out in spring.
When you think of spring, some people might even say “moles,” right? How about a game of Whac-A-Mole as a recreation activity to enjoy in March? It’s easy to make your own Whac-A-Mole using paper cups and disposable chopsticks.
Let’s draw moles on the paper cups.
If older adults each draw their favorite face, you’ll end up with a lot of unique, characterful moles! Make the hammer by fixing a disposable chopstick to a paper cup.
When the countdown starts, try whacking the moles with your hammer! It’s bound to turn into an exciting and fun showdown!
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.