[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] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- [March Health Topic] Introducing Recreational Activities for Seniors!
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- [For Seniors] Haiku for March: Enjoying a Spring Moment with Famous Verses
- [For Seniors] Making a March Calendar: Introducing Spring-Themed Motifs and Arrangements
- [For Seniors] Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Day) Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts. Recommended for Dementia Prevention Activities
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- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation (51–60)
Dropping Colored Balls
We would like to introduce a color ball drop activity for pairs.
Have two older adults sit facing each other, each holding two sticks by their tips.
Place baskets labeled with colors between them.
Roll balls along the sticks and drop each ball into the basket with the matching color label.
This game emphasizes cooperation between the two participants.
Encourage them to communicate and synchronize their movements.
It’s a fun activity that can spark conversation and help expand social connections.
Sign Language Together: “A Gift Without a Stamp”
When you hear “sign language,” it sounds difficult, doesn’t it? But couldn’t you at least imitate it? Set to the song “A Present Without a Stamp,” we match simple sign language to it like a hand play song.
This way, it seems doable while just copying along, right? It’s an activity I’d love to try with other songs too.
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the ball-toss game often seen at school sports festivals.
Some older adults may have taken part in sports days and played tamaire in the past.
Here’s a perfect tamaire activity for a warm April day to get the body moving.
Because it’s a familiar game, it can help older adults refresh their mood and relieve stress.
Have participants sit in chairs and place a basket in the center.
Prepare red, white, and other colored balls, and have the participants throw them into the basket.
The person who gets the most balls in the basket wins.
Throwing with the arms and shoulders also provides upper-body exercise.
Onigiri Concentration
Spring is coming and spirits are lifting—and nothing says outing season like a bento.
When it comes to picnics and hikes, many of us immediately think of onigiri, right? Here’s a game that uses onigiri fillings: Onigiri Concentration.
Prepare cards illustrated with different onigiri fillings, lay them face down, and flip them over to find matches—if the fillings are the same, it’s a hit.
It’s an easy, visually intuitive twist on the classic memory game.
It’s also a great way to spark conversation about everyone’s favorite onigiri fillings.
You can even play a memory-training variant where everyone first looks at all the card positions before they’re turned face down.
[For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation (61–70)
Peach Festival Quiz
The Peach Festival quiz is a recreational activity that older adults can enjoy as well.
Since participants choose answers from three options about the origins and customs of Hinamatsuri, it’s not too difficult and easy to join.
The quiz may also bring back nostalgic memories.
Plus, because it engages the brain in a different way than usual, it could help improve cognitive function.
Questions related to seasonal events are perfect for rekindling memories.
Thinking about the answers together in a friendly atmosphere will likely make for a lovely time that lets everyone feel the arrival of spring.
Hina-arare scooping
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.
Tulip
Here is an introduction to a calendar themed around tulips, which come into full bloom around March.
Tulips have a distinctive rounded shape and vibrant colors.
A calendar made with tulips crafted from origami or construction paper may hold each senior’s personal thoughts and feelings.
Looking at a cute, self-made tulip calendar can bring joy and a sense of satisfaction.
Displaying it in one’s room might even make it feel as if spring has arrived indoors.