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

Fly away, koi-nobori!

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

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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kojifumi

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Caregiving Exercise “Tea Picking”

[Elderly Care Exercise] Tea Picking

Hachijūhachi-ya refers to the 88th day counting from Risshun (the first day of spring in the traditional calendar).

Since ancient times, it has been used as a guideline for starting agricultural work such as tea picking and rice planting.

This time, we will introduce an exercise set to the music of “Chatumi” (Tea Picking).

First, let’s check your body movements as a warm-up.

The motions follow the lyrics, so they’re easy to remember.

If you do it to the music, don’t forget the rhythmic claps at key points.

At first, you may find yourself focused on the movements, but once you get used to them, you can enjoy various variations, such as changing the tempo or doing it while singing.

Performing multiple activities at the same time—moving your body while thinking and singing—can also be expected to have brain-training benefits, making it recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.

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kojifumi

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Hyakunin Isshu

812 Hyakunin Isshu

May 27 is Hyakunin Isshu Day.

It’s a great opportunity, so I’d like to introduce it.

It is said that this date marks the creation of the first Hyakunin Isshu, because Fujiwara no Teika—a court noble and poet active from the Heian period to the early Kamakura period—selected representative poems by 100 poets from collections such as the Kokin Wakashu and the Shin Kokin Wakashu.

While it’s commonly played like a card game (karuta), it’s actually quite profound.

As you memorize the verses, locate the card being read, and snatch it, your mind is rapidly cycling through comprehension, thinking, judgment, and action.

It also works well as brain training and can be enjoyed by multiple people, so it’s recommended as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.

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kojifumi

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Pikagoro

Senior recreation—guaranteed big laughs! Pikagoro lets you enjoy fun brain training. #RecreationForSeniors #BrainTraining #Easy #Fun #Entertaining

As we age, it’s said that handling multiple tasks at the same time becomes more difficult.

Using both the mind and body has brain-training benefits, and if you move your body while thinking, you can expect even greater brain activation.

This time, I’ll introduce the Pika-Goro game.

Have the older adults sit facing each other, each holding two sticks.

The caller says “pika-pika” or “goro-goro.” On the cue “dokan,” the older adults should both grip the sticks and raise them.

Once everyone gets used to it, calling out “pika-pika” or “goro-goro” several times and then feinting can make it even more exciting.

Flying Fukuwarai

[New Year Activity] Guaranteed Laughter for Everyone! Flying Fukuwarai!

Some older adults may have played fukuwarai during the New Year holidays.

Fukuwarai is the game where you’re blindfolded and place facial features onto a face, right? Part of the fun is not being able to place the features correctly.

But with “Flying Fukuwarai,” there’s no blindfold.

Instead, you toss large facial feature pieces onto a sheet of paper with a large face drawn on it.

Of course, it still often results in hilariously misplaced features, which makes it exciting.

And because you throw the pieces while looking at the face, it’s said to help train spatial awareness.

Spatial awareness is the ability to perceive positions and shapes within space.

When it declines, people may get lost on familiar routes or bump into things more easily.

Give Flying Fukuwarai a try for a fun brain workout!

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Nakajima Junko

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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.

Korokoro Push Game

[Cheerful Rec 🏀] Rolling Push Game #CheerfulManager

It’s a game where you use a stick to keep balls from falling as they roll toward you.

Since the field where the balls roll is far away, your ability to control a long stick that can effectively transfer force to the balls is put to the test.

The rules increase the number of balls gradually over time, which adds a decision-making element about which ball to tap.

It’s a game that can train various skills—judgment, speed, control, and how you apply force—by keeping all these factors in mind.

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kappamaki

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