[For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas

Paper Core Bowling

Toilet paper bowling #day service #recreation

Back in the Showa era, there was a time when bowling was hugely popular.

Some older adults may have been into bowling back then.

Let’s rekindle those memories and get our fingers moving with a bowling game.

Use toilet paper rolls as pins, and a lightweight rubber ball that doesn’t feel heavy to knock them down.

Since it can be played on a table, people who have difficulty standing can participate as well.

Keeping score like in real bowling will make it even more exciting.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Spring Song Exercise

[Singing Brain-Training Exercises] For Seniors, Simple, Preventive Care, Care Facility Recreation, Health Exercises

When we listen to songs like “Haru no Ogawa” and “Sakura Sakura,” we picture the warm, sunny weather of spring.

Let’s try doing some exercises to these spring songs.

As you sing, clap your hands and lift your legs.

Many children’s songs are likely familiar to older adults, too.

It’s said that recalling and singing the lyrics of songs you know can also serve as a workout for the brain.

For older adults who find it difficult to move their legs, just the hand motions are perfectly fine.

Please participate within the range you can manage.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Funny Gesture Exercises

Recreation (brain training): Seniors smile and do gesture exercises — recommended for day service programs.

A gesture game where you don’t speak, but watch movements and guess the answer.

Because it’s often played on TV shows and at parties, many older adults may already be familiar with it.

In gesture games, you watch the movements, imagine what they mean, and answer.

Imagining is said to help activate the brain.

What’s more, having older adults perform the prompted actions themselves boosts the brain-training effect.

Since you’re getting older adults to move, it’s like gesture exercise.

Expanding prompts from “eating a mandarin” to “peeling and eating a mandarin” also stimulates the imagination.

Adjust the difficulty to suit the older adults.

The more movements you add, the more smiles you’re likely to see.

Tea Picking Rec

[May Recommended Activity] Tea Picking Activity for Brain Activation + Upper Limb Strength Training

From late April to early May is said to be the season for picking the first tea leaves.

Some older adults may enjoy fresh new tea.

For a May activity, how about a recreation set to the children’s song “Chatsumi” (Tea Picking)? Place long, thin strips of newspaper in a box and use sticks to scoop them up as if picking tea leaves.

Having older adults help cut the newspapers into long strips also provides fine motor training for their fingertips.

Doing this while singing or listening to “Chatsumi” can help them feel the season.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Newspaper-pulling-with-your-feet game

Three pull-out games using your feet that seniors can play while seated #recreation_for_seniors #seated_activities #newspaper

Here’s a game that gets you moving your feet while having fun and training at the same time.

Have older adults sit in a chair and pull a sheet of newspaper with their feet.

They can pull it with one foot or with both feet together.

You can also have two older adults sit facing each other at a distance and compete—it should be fun.

Besides providing leg exercise, it’s likely to increase interaction among older adults and bring more smiles.

It can also help with a change of pace and stress relief.

Please give it a try.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Uchiwa catching

Feel the Summer! Easy Recreation Using Traditional Uchiwa Fans [Elderly Recreation / Day Service Recreation]

Uchiwa fans are a hallmark of summer, aren’t they? Just seeing one makes a lot of people feel the season.

This time, we’re introducing a fun game that uses this versatile item.

“Uchiwa-tori” is like a tablecloth-pull trick, but with an uchiwa.

Place a plastic bottle on the fan and pull it out without knocking the bottle over! It’s best to adjust the amount of water in the bottle to a moderate level.

If there’s too little water, the difficulty goes up—so be careful! Since you move your hands, it also seems like it could give your brain a nice bit of stimulation.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nanaka

Report a problem

Patakara Song: Spring Has Come

[Elderly Care Exercise] Patakara Song 03 Spring Has Come

Why not try training your chewing and swallowing abilities to the familiar children’s song “Haru ga Kita” (Spring Has Come)? It’s simple: just replace the lyrics of the well-known song with the syllables pa-ta-ka-ra and sing them out loud.

You can do it anywhere, without worrying about the location.

In senior care facilities, it’s helpful for staff to demonstrate the method so no one is unsure how to do it.

Doing the exercise before meals can better prevent aspiration, so if you explain the purpose and benefits in advance, participants are likely to join more actively.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kojifumi

Report a problem