[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games

Whac-A-Mole game

Handmade Whack-a-Mole #shorts

Moles that usually live underground also pop their heads out in spring.

When you think of spring, some people might even answer, “moles.” How about a game of whack-a-mole as a May recreation? It’s easy to enjoy using paper cups and disposable chopsticks.

Let’s draw moles on the paper cups.

If seniors each draw their favorite faces, you’ll end up with a lot of unique, characterful moles! You can make the hammer by fixing a disposable chopstick to a paper cup.

As soon as you shout “Ready, start!” whack the moles with the hammer! It’s bound to turn into a heated and fun battle!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

moko

Report a problem

ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)

[Day Service] Ball-Toss Battle!

Tamaire, the ball-toss game often seen at school sports days.

Some older adults may have participated in sports days in the past and played tamaire, too.

Here’s a perfect recreation activity for moving the body in warm May: tamaire.

With this familiar game, older adults can enjoy a change of pace and relieve stress.

Have participants sit in chairs and place a basket in the center.

Prepare red, white, and other colored balls, and have them toss the balls into the basket.

The person who gets the most balls into the basket wins.

Throwing with the arms and shoulders also provides an upper-body workout.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Paper cup drop

Insanely Hard Paper Cup Drop lol [Senior Recreation]

Here’s a game using paper cups.

Line up the paper cups in a row.

Use the lined-up cups as targets, and have older adults throw a ball at them from a short distance.

Depending on where you set the cups, the idea is to throw the ball so the cups fall over or drop to the floor.

Even if the ball doesn’t hit the cups well, it can spark laughter and provide a nice change of pace.

It also encourages conversation with others and can help expand social interaction among older adults.

Paper cups are sold at 100-yen shops, so preparation is easy.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Shishamo Game

Shishamo Game - Recreational Activity for Seniors

In May, carp streamers swim pleasantly through the sky, don’t they? As you might expect, it’s hard to grab a swimming carp streamer with a quick “gotcha!”, but tiny smelt—especially ones made of paper—should be easy to catch! Shishamo are in season in autumn, but since they can be frozen, we can enjoy them all year round now.

Here’s a shishamo game that uses that theme! Make little shishamo by rolling small pieces of paper into tubes and drawing eyes and fins.

Insert a straw or similar, and compete to see how quickly you can transfer them to the neighboring plate.

Since you use your hands and fingers, it’s great for rehabilitation too! Savor an autumn delicacy in May—try grabbing it fast!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

Mugwort picking

Here’s one tip for picking mugwort

In China, yomogi (mugwort) is called aiye and has long been used as a traditional medicine.

In Japan, it’s also considered beneficial for the digestive system, circulatory system, and allergies, so it’s added to baths on Children’s Day along with iris leaves.

With that in mind, how about a yomogi-picking outing for a May recreation activity? Since it only involves picking, I think even seniors can do it without strain.

You could dry it to make yomogi powder and then use it to make kusa mochi, too!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem