[For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation

Makimaki Apple Game

Let's do this for tomorrow's recreation! It gets everyone excited at the day service! The Maki-Maki Rinko Game 🍎 #dayservice #elderly #elderlyrecreation #seniors #recreation #caregiving #preventivecare #braintraining #dementiaprevention #dementia #shorts

As a recreation activity for day services or childcare settings, we propose the “Roll-Up Apple Game”! First, place paper apple motifs on construction paper and attach them.

Set them a short distance away; connect the stick and paper with clear tape, then roll the stick to wind the tape and draw the apples toward yourself.

It should get very lively if several people compete! By starting with the crafting process, participants can experience both making the materials and playing the game.

Please give it a try together and have fun!

Popcorn Game

Ready in no time! 😆 Popcorn you can bounce and pop with your feet 🍿 #SeniorActivities #DementiaPrevention #DayService #Easy #Recreation #shorts

Even if you know that moving your body is good for your health, you might still feel reluctant to get active.

So here’s a fun popcorn game that lets you exercise your feet while enjoying yourself.

Sit in a chair and place paper plates on both knees.

Fill the plates with lots of crumpled-up paper balls.

Think of the paper plates as frying pans and the crumpled paper as popcorn for the game.

When someone says, “Ready, start!”, flutter your legs and march your feet to shake the paper popcorn out of the plates.

Watching the crumpled paper fall from the plates looks just like popcorn popping in a heated frying pan.

Because it’s an exercise you can do like a game, it seems like older adults can enjoy participating too.

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Nakajima Junko

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Ball Grabbing Game

[Mini Game] Ball Grabbing Game ♟️ #dayservice #recreation #elderly #nursingcare #rehabilitation #sportsrecreation #shorts

Let’s play a game where you grab balls using newspaper.

All the tools used in the game are made from newspaper.

Make the balls by crumpling newspaper into a sphere, and make the grabbing sticks out of newspaper as well.

You can create everything you need for the game using everyday materials.

Place several balls inside a circle, grab them with the stick, and put them into a basket.

If you set a time limit, the game gets more exciting.

Forming teams and competing for the best time will make it even more fun.

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Nakajima Junko

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Hina-arare scooping

Recreation for Seniors – Easy to Prepare! Even Same-Day! 7 Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) Activities

When we think of March, we think of Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), don’t we? Many nursing care facilities likely hold Hinamatsuri events.

So this time, we’re sharing “Hinamatsuri recreation” ideas that are recommended even for busy staff.

Events and recreational activities can sometimes require time-consuming preparation, like making things in advance.

However, there are also activities you can prepare on the day.

With a little creativity, you can have fun with activities like rolling up newspaper into balls or playing a Daruma-otoshi-style game using stacked tissue boxes.

For activities that do require advance preparation, try reusing items you’ve made before or using familiar recyclable materials like milk cartons.

We hope you’ll use these ideas to enjoy a wonderful time with older adults.

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Nakajima Junko

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Exercise to the song ‘Spring Has Come’

Simple exercises and senior activities: “Spring Has Come” brain training that livens up day-service programs

The familiar children’s song “Spring Has Come.” This time, we’ll introduce a brain-training exercise you can do while singing this song.

First, let’s review the movement performed over four beats.

After taking three steps in place, on the fourth beat, clap your hands and lift your thigh.

That’s all.

This may seem simple on its own, but doing it while singing the nursery rhyme will likely change your impression.

Moving your body, recalling the lyrics, and singing—these separate actions provide stimulation to the brain and are said to help prevent cognitive decline.

It can be done anywhere and with any number of participants, so it’s also recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.

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kojifumi

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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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Paper Cup Fishing

Fishing with paper cups! Strengthen hand movements and stimulate the brain!

Let me introduce a lively, indoor activity: “Paper Cup Fishing.” You’ll need paper cups, newspaper, disposable chopsticks and tape, plus some wire.

First, draw your favorite sea creatures on the paper cups.

If drawing isn’t your strength, you can paste on printed illustrations.

Tear newspaper into thin strips by hand and attach them to the cups.

The length changes the difficulty, so you can make larger “fish” harder to catch if you like.

Make a fishing rod with the chopsticks, a fishing line from newspaper, and a hook from wire—then you’re ready! Arrange the fish-shaped paper cups on a table and catch them with your rod.

You can play in various ways: first to catch five wins, or whoever catches the most in 30 seconds wins, and so on.

While playing, you’ll use many parts of the body—shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingertips—so it’s also effective as occupational therapy.

It’s perfect for recreation in senior care facilities.

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kojifumi

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