For Seniors: Simple and Fun! November Recreation Ideas
Here are some November activities and recreations we recommend for older adults.
As November arrives, the scenery begins to shift from autumn to winter, and the temperatures drop quite a bit.
It’s a season where you can enjoy a different kind of seasonal beauty than in the height of autumn, but many older adults may find it hard to move as they’d like due to the cold and end up staying indoors.
With that in mind, this article gathers seasonal games and recreational activities that can be enjoyed indoors.
These ideas are also great for community gatherings and day service settings.
We hope everyone has fun together!
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For Seniors: Simple and Fun! November Recreation Ideas (21–30)
autumn leaf viewing
The word “kari” (hunting) can sound a bit scary, but in Japanese we sometimes use “—gari” to mean going to look at and enjoy something.
For example… well, let’s set the quiz aside for now—when it comes to autumn, one of the pleasures is momijigari (autumn leaf viewing).
In town, maple and ginkgo trees are the standouts.
If those trees are in a park, it seems like you could enjoy a little picnic.
If you live near the mountains, the bright red leaves of rowan and Japanese sumac are striking to the eye.
The ways to enjoy it are many: composing haiku, sketching, and more.
Origami “Autumn Leaves”
Mid-November is also the season for autumn leaves, and this is a craft for making maple leaves out of origami.
All you need are origami paper and scissors—super simple.
You’ll transform the crane base into a maple leaf shape.
If you know how to fold a crane, this should be very easy! Once you master the steps, you can make lots in no time.
Using different colors of origami will make your decorations look better and add depth.
Attach them to walls or other surfaces to fully enjoy the autumn season.
Give it a try!
Making ornaments with origami
This is a craft activity where you attach various autumn-themed items made from origami onto a board to create an autumnal scene.
Rather than only making the specified items, it’s recommended to think about what fruits and plants are associated with autumn and incorporate those into your designs.
When making each motif, techniques like adding slits and layering are key—by giving the pieces a three-dimensional feel, the fun really stands out.
Your sense of style will also be put to the test in choosing which motifs to include and where to place them.
Moon-viewing game
Many people probably think that otsukimi is about enjoying the full moon in autumn.
However, strictly speaking, the fifteenth night isn’t always a full moon.
That’s because it’s based on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month in the old lunar calendar.
Just a little tidbit about moon viewing.
Enjoying a game themed around otsukimi also feels wonderfully autumnal.
You could play a game where you roll dumplings into perfect spheres, hold a contest for stylishly arranging pampas grass, or have everyone fold rabbit origami—there are plenty of fun ideas.
Pet bottle bowling could be a hit too, with the bowling ball as the moon and the pins standing in for pampas grass!
Chestnuts from the fire game
When it comes to autumn delicacies, chestnuts are one of the classics, and just the sight of picking chestnuts from among fallen leaves evokes the season, doesn’t it? This is a game everyone can enjoy, themed around that very situation of brushing aside leaves to find chestnuts.
Line a cardboard box with crumpled newspaper, place capsules inside to represent chestnuts, and use tongs to search for them.
Since you use only the hand holding the tongs to move the newspaper aside, smooth wrist movements are key.
Also, inside the chestnut capsules are notes that change the point values, adding an element of strategy to the fun.
Autumn Picture Postcard
This is about drawing autumn scenery on postcard-sized paper to enjoy a little taste of fall.
The materials you use will change the mood of the finished piece, so be intentional about that choice.
It’s also important to decide which scene to choose and what part of it to crop; using photos as references to plan your composition is recommended.
Another fun point is that there are many aspects you can fuss over—whether to stick to just the illustration or add text to enhance the atmosphere, for example.
Spot the differences
Spot-the-difference is a game where you compare two similar pictures and look for small differences.
The key point here is that the illustrations are autumn-themed, so while sharpening your focus to identify the differences, you can also soak in the seasonal atmosphere.
The pictures feature various autumnal elements, but they aren’t necessarily the differences, so don’t be misled—compare the entire images carefully.
It’s said there are various techniques, such as comparing block by block or taking a soft-focus look at the whole, so try tackling it in your own way.