[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games
May is full of events, isn’t it?
Did you know that in addition to Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, there are also days like Makeup Day and Hyakunin Isshu Day?
In this article, we’ll introduce May-themed recreational activities and games for seniors.
It’s perfect for those thinking, “What should we do for May activities?”
With the warm weather, why not enjoy recreation not only indoors but also outdoors?
These activities will enrich the minds and bodies of older adults.
Let’s savor the feeling of the season in May through these recreational ideas.
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- [For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
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- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Fun Small-Group Recreation
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- [For Seniors] Haiku for March: Enjoying a Spring Moment with Famous Verses
- [For Seniors] May-Themed Wall Decoration Ideas Full of Seasonal Flair
[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreations and Games (41–50)
Tea Jar Hand Play
May is the season when new tea tastes delicious.
“Tea Jar Hand Play” is a game that lets you fully savor that seasonal feeling! You can play it anywhere, so it’s fun even by yourself at home.
It’s also one of those easy games that work well as a group activity in senior care facilities.
No tools are needed, so it’s simple to try.
The Tea Jar song has the simple melody and rhythm unique to traditional children’s songs, making it pleasant to hear and familiar for older adults.
It’s also filled with elements of Japanese culture, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Let’s all use our hands and enjoy it together!
Koinobori Soufflé Cheesecake
For Children’s Day events, it’s also recommended to prepare luxurious sweets and enjoy a festive celebration.
Perfect for events at senior care facilities as well is the Koinobori Soufflé Cheesecake introduced here.
It looks like a koinobori carp streamer, is cute, and easy to make—highly recommended.
Making it together lets everyone enjoy the fun of cooking and the appeal of teamwork.
Just mix the ingredients, pour into cups, and bake in the oven—that’s it! The final decorating step really sparks creativity.
Enjoy customizing your own designs.
Koinobori Rocket Challenge
Speaking of major events in May, Children’s Day comes to mind, doesn’t it? When you see carp streamers, doesn’t it remind you of your own childhood? The carp streamers swimming high in the sky look grand and carefree, don’t they? This time, I’d like to introduce a game that uses those carp streamers.
The Carp Streamer Rocket Challenge is a game where you launch a carp streamer rocket.
It’s very easy to make using just a paper cup and a plastic umbrella bag.
Creating hoops and launching the carp streamer rocket to score points sounds like it would be a lot of fun too.
Total Concentration PET-bottle Kendama
Did you know that May 14 is Kendama Day? It’s said that when older adults play kendama, it brings back memories and activates the brain.
Also, moving the arms and fingertips and guiding the body to a target position is very good for both the brain and the body.
Why not try making this kendama yourself and playing with it? It’s easy to make: tie a string to the opening of a plastic bottle, and attach a paper cup to the other end of the string.
That’s it! Hold the bottle by the body and try to catch the opening side with the paper cup to play.
Mother’s Day 3-choice Quiz
Mother’s Day is a familiar occasion for expressing gratitude to our mothers.
This time, we’re introducing a three-choice quiz themed around Mother’s Day.
When is Mother’s Day? Which country did Mother’s Day originate in? What was the original color of the carnations given on Mother’s Day? You may find there are things you’re not sure about when you think them through.
You can also change the questions, or increase or decrease the number of choices, to encourage more people to take part.
With just simple preparations, anyone can enjoy participating—even in senior care facilities.
Give it a try!
Height Comparison Song Exercise
As we get older, our footing can become unsteady, so exercises you can do while seated feel reassuring.
What we’re introducing here is a seated health exercise called “Height Comparison.” In Japan, there’s a traditional song called “Height Comparison,” and this routine lets you move in ways that match the lyrics as you sing.
It’s wonderful.
You’ll do movements you don’t usually make, and learning the choreography and moving quickly also trains the brain, so please give it a try.
My Mother’s Memory
Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Yasushi Inoue, the film ‘Chronicle of My Mother’ portrays the bond between parent and child and the love for a mother through life with an ailing parent.
It won the Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the Montreal World Film Festival.
When screening it, we recommend using subtitles to make it easier for older viewers to follow, and scheduling breaks or segmenting the viewing time, as sitting for long periods can be tiring.
After the screening, set aside time to share impressions and discuss the film.
