For Seniors: Enjoy Every Day! A Collection of Senior Recreation Ideas

Fun brain-activating exercises to the rhythm of stepping

[Supervised by a Certified Health Fitness Instructor] Brain-Activating Exercises You Can Do in Care Settings! Enjoyable Stepping-to-the-Rhythm Workout – Part 2

If you want to enjoy brain-activating exercises with a marching rhythm, ball exercises are recommended.

First, repeatedly extend the ball forward with one hand while lifting the opposite leg, alternating sides.

Once you get used to it, change the direction from forward to upward, coordinating your hands and feet in the same way.

Finally, match the rhythm by extending the hand opposite the lifted leg forward, forward, up, up—two times each.

This exercise requires changes in tempo and hand-foot coordination, providing strong stimulation to the brain and helping maintain concentration and reflexes.

It can be done while seated, making it easy for older adults to adopt, and it’s convenient to start with just a single ball from a 100-yen shop.

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kojifumi

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Pinball with a cup

[Cheerful Recreation 🏀] Make a super popular game by hand! Pinball with cups! Guaranteed fun!

Let’s make holes in a cardboard sheet and enjoy a pinball-style game.

It’s an arcade game that was popular from the 1970s to the 1980s.

You flick the ball and score points by hitting various mechanisms on the playfield.

Create features by cutting holes in the cardboard and standing up and gluing paper cups.

Tilt the cardboard that serves as the playfield and roll a ping-pong ball.

The player who has more ping-pong balls remaining in the basket set at the lower end wins.

The more holes you make in the cardboard, the higher the difficulty, so adjust the number accordingly.

With a design reminiscent of a nostalgic game from the past, it’s likely to be a hit with seniors as well.

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Nakajima Junko

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Origami Tetris

129 Origami [How to make Tetris] TETRIS origami

Three-dimensional and fun! Here’s an idea for origami Tetris.

Many of you have probably played Tetris on a computer or game console, right? This time, let’s make tetrominoes—just like they jumped out of the game world—using origami.

All you need is origami paper and scissors or a craft knife.

You’ll divide a 15 cm square sheet into four parts to make them, so this is a perfect idea for those who are good with detailed work.

Let’s make some tetrominoes and play!

Color Game

[Senior Recreation] Easy Activities Using a Whiteboard [Day Service Recreation, Brain Training, Preventive Care]

How about a color game as a whiteboard activity? For this game, prepare papers with color words written on them.

The key is to make the kanji different from the actual color of the text.

Instead of reading the words on the papers attached to the whiteboard, ask the participating seniors to say the color of the letters.

It may seem easy, but it actually trips people up and often leads to lots of laughs.

Because you see with your eyes and think with your head, it’s effective for reflexes and brain training.

Start by letting them answer slowly and thoughtfully, then gradually pick up the pace.

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moko

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Character search

Day service Kumagaya Nozomi newspaper letter search

Finding letters in a newspaper is another recreation activity that older adults can do easily and enjoyably.

In this “letter hunt,” you announce a prompt—such as a hiragana, a kanji, or a word—and participants search for it.

For example, let’s say the prompt is the character “ま.” Look for “ま” among the letters in the newspaper.

When you find one, circle it.

This activity requires concentration and attention, making it an effective recreation for stimulating the brain.

If you have older adults around you, why not give it a try?

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Kawamura Mina

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Strawberry and banana gelato

[Easy Snack] Strawberry and Banana Gelato [At-Home Time]

For July’s snack activity, let’s make some refreshing gelato! The fruits we’ll use this time are strawberries and bananas.

Remove the stems from the strawberries and slice the bananas into rounds, then put them in a zipper bag and freeze.

Once slightly chopped, place them in a food processor with sweetened condensed milk and soy milk, and blend.

Adjust the taste by adding more soy milk and condensed milk while checking the consistency and sweetness.

When smooth, transfer to a container and chill in the freezer again until firm.

Serve the gelato with strawberries and bananas in a dish, and it’s ready.

If you warm your spoon or disher beforehand, it will scoop more easily.

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moko

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Handmade planetarium

[Senior Recreation] Rec Artisan Series Part 94: Tanabata Event [DIY Planetarium / Event Rec / Tanabata]

When it comes to major events in July, Tanabata comes to mind, and I think the starry sky is an essential element of its story.

How about trying your hand at a handmade planetarium that evokes the spirit of Tanabata by focusing on the night sky? Instead of projecting onto the ceiling—which would require looking up and could be hard on the body—you can project constellations onto a tabletop.

Simply draw constellations on paper and shine a light on them in a darkened room, and you can create a convincing atmosphere of constellations floating in the night sky.

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kappamaki

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