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[For Seniors] Recreation Games Related to October Events
October is when the heat finally eases and autumn truly sets in.
The weather is getting cooler, and there are probably more days that feel comfortable.
Autumn is full of exciting events like Halloween and sports festivals.
This time, we’ll introduce recreation ideas related to October’s events.
Since some seniors may find it difficult to go out, we’ve focused on activities that can be enjoyed indoors.
Please use these as a reference and have a wonderful time together!
[For Seniors] Recreation Games Related to October Events (1–10)
Potato Digging Game
When it comes to autumn foods, many people probably think of sweet potatoes.
As children, we used to dig them up and gather fallen leaves to make roasted sweet potatoes, didn’t we? This “Potato Digging Game” involves scooping up delicious-looking sweet potatoes made from thick paper with a small shovel and dropping them into your opponent’s territory.
It’s a simple activity, but it can get quite heated—give it a try!
Makimaki Apple Game
This is a “Roll-Roll Apple” game where you use fine movements of your fingers and wrist to wind up tape! Attach a length of raffia (suzuran) tape to a piece of thick paper that will serve as a plate.
Fix the opposite end of the tape to a plastic wrap core so it can be wound up.
Place an apple made by crumpling paper on top of the thick paper, and you’re ready.
At the start signal, wind the tape to pull the apple toward you without letting it fall.
The person who gets their apple to the goal first wins.
If you panic, the apple will fall, so wind the tape quickly but carefully.
Balloon kick
This is a balloon kick game where you kick balloons into a target frame! Attach the cut-off bottom of a milk carton to the balloon’s knot as a weight so the balloon doesn’t drift around.
Then just kick the balloon so it fits neatly into a frame made from twisted newspapers or similar! Because balloons are light, they travel far even with a small amount of force, so older adults can kick them while seated and still send them flying nicely.
You can also prepare multiple frames and set rules to score the total points of the frames the balloon lands in, or try other variations to enjoy the game in different ways.
Halloween Curling
Speaking of curling, the sport’s popularity in Japan surged thanks to the Japanese women’s team’s performance at the Pyeongchang Olympics! This is “Halloween Curling,” where paper cups decorated for Halloween are made to look like curling stones.
To play, you throw the paper cups so they slide straight toward the high-scoring zones and compete for points.
Even a familiar game can feel much more seasonal with a small twist like this!
Word association game: sweet potato dishes
This is a word-association game where you take turns naming dishes made with sweet, fluffy sweet potatoes that you crave from autumn into winter! Classic sweet potato dishes include baked sweet potatoes, sweet potato tarts (sweet potato desserts), candied sweet potatoes (daigaku-imo), crispy sweet potato sticks (imo-kenpi), and sweet potato rice.
Some people also add them to miso soup or tonjiru (pork and vegetable miso soup), and there may be regional specialties that only locals know.
But when it comes time to answer in a game, it can be surprisingly hard to think of examples.
Let’s keep it moving by offering hints like “There’s this kind of dish, right?” as we go.
Halloween Night Dance
At the Halloween Night Dance, let’s enjoy a groovy, seated dance! The choreography is simple and easy to remember: move both crossed hands in front of your chest, open and close your elbows to the sides, and raise and lower your clenched fists alternately.
For those who can move their legs, encourage them to try an open-and-close leg step as well.
Be sure to select songs perfect for October that fit the Halloween and autumn theme, and set a tempo that allows older adults to move comfortably while enjoying the dance.
A recreational activity using a whiteboard and beanbags
A unique game that uses a whiteboard with a stand laid flat! Place items like a jack-o’-lantern plush toy evenly on the horizontally positioned whiteboard.
Once everyone is in position around it, take turns tossing beanbags to land them on the board.
Every time the board flips over, you can’t help but let out an “Ahh!”, making this game not only a blast for everyone but also a good workout that gets your arms moving.
Set up the whiteboard and give it a try right away!