Lovely senior life

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

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

Last updated:2025/5/10

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

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.

[For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games (1–10)

Koinobori Shooter

How to make a carp streamer shooter using a paper cup and a balloon

Koinobori Shooter

Introducing a carp streamer shooter made with a paper cup.

Cut out the bottom of the paper cup.

Cut a balloon slightly and stretch it over the bottom of the cup, then reinforce it with tape.

Tie the tip of the balloon on the opposite side of where you taped.

You can decorate the sides of the cup by attaching origami paper or stickers to the balloon tip area, or by drawing scale patterns.

Add eyes to finish.

Drop a ping-pong ball in from the drinking rim of the cup and pull the balloon.

The ping-pong ball will shoot out, so you can play games with it.

How about a game where you launch ping-pong balls from the carp streamer shooter into a basket or box? It’s a craft that older adults can enjoy even after making it.

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Tea Picking Game

The “Tea-Picking Game” of the 88th Night

Tea Picking Game

Tea picking, famous for the phrase “Hachijūhachi-ya, when summer draws near.” This time, we’re introducing a game inspired by Hachijūhachi-ya.

Prepare green and light green origami paper and roll each sheet into a cone shape.

It’s good to have a mix of sizes, large and small.

Set out two disposable containers so you can harvest green mature leaves and light green young leaves separately.

Place shredded newspaper dyed green inside a cardboard box.

Once you’ve tucked the origami into the box, you’re all set.

At the signal, harvest while sorting between leaves and young leaves.

There are many variations: race for speed, compete for how many you can harvest within a time limit, or use tweezers.

It can help train fine motor skills and improve comprehension and decision-making.

Give it a try!

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Rice Planting Game

[Seasonal Care Activity] Rice Planting Game!!

Rice Planting Game

Around May, it’s the season when rice planting becomes more common.

If you live near rice paddies, you can enjoy the sight of fields turning green with newly planted rice.

Let’s bring that scenery to life with a rice-planting game designed for seniors.

These days, rice planting is usually done with machines.

However, in this game, players “plant” felt pieces instead of rice seedlings by hand.

Prepare a cardboard board with round holes cut out to represent the rice field.

The person who plants the most felt “rice” into the holes wins.

Playing this rice-planting game may help some seniors recall their memories of planting rice in the past.

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Koinobori Exercises

[Koinobori] Easy to do while seated! “With 2 DVDs & CDs: 32 Lively Senior Exercises with Seasonal Songs, Full Color” #5

Koinobori Exercises

This is the Koinobori Exercise, a routine you do to the children’s song “Koinobori.” It’s designed so that even those with weak legs can do it while seated in a chair.

Of course, you can do it standing as well.

It’s fun to move along to music that matches the season, isn’t it? We often feel reluctant to get moving, but exercising together is enjoyable, and you’ll feel refreshed and invigorated afterward!

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Let’s make koinobori (carp streamers)

Wakomon TV Crafts: Children's Day Koinobori – How to Make a 'Carp Decoration' for Boys' Festival #046 • Easy Chirimen Crafts, Temari, Oshie, and Japanese Accessories

Let's make koinobori (carp streamers)

Let’s try making cute decorative carp streamers.

The tools you’ll need are origami paper, double-sided tape, glue, scissors, chirimen crepe fabric, felt, and so on—things you probably already have at home.

These days you can even find chirimen fabric offcuts at 100-yen shops.

You can enjoy making them together and then display them as they are, so you can keep enjoying them as finished pieces afterward.

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Children’s Day Quiz

[May is Children's Month] Children's Day Quiz: 5 Questions!!

Children's Day Quiz

How about a quiz contest themed around one of May’s seasonal events, Children’s Day? May 5 is an old traditional holiday also known as Tango no Sekku.

We often picture carp streamers swimming in the sky, but what else do people do for it? You might find yourself thinking, “Now that you mention it…” Questions about the kanji for “Tango no Sekku” or about the order of the carp streamers could be pretty challenging.

You can find plenty of material that could become quiz questions with just a quick online search, so definitely look into it!

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Fly away, koi-nobori!

[May Recommendation] Fly Away, Koinobori! [All You Need Is Newspaper]

Fly away, koi-nobori!

Let me introduce a recreation activity using a koinobori (carp streamer) called “Fly Away, Koinobori.” You will need one double-spread newspaper page, a pen, and tape.

First, fold the double-spread newspaper in half, then fold down about 10 centimeters along the top edge.

Roll the paper into a tube so that the folded section is on the inside.

Tape it to prevent it from unrolling.

With the koinobori shape complete, use a pen to draw designs and patterns to create your original koinobori.

To use it, launch it like a paper airplane.

You can adapt the activity in many ways: compete for flight distance, flight time, or aim at targets.

While having fun, it also provides exercise and training from the shoulders to the fingertips, making it recommended for senior care facilities.

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