[For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced
Here are some recreational activities and games for older adults to enjoy the hot summer.
When the heat is intense, going out can be difficult, right? Many seniors probably think, “I still want to make the most of summer!” In this article, we’ve gathered games you can enjoy indoors as well as recreational activities that incorporate classic summer traditions.
If you’re looking for summer recreation ideas for senior facilities such as day-service centers, please use this as a reference!
- [For Seniors] Fun Activities That Liven Up Cool Evening Festivals and Summer Festivals
- [For Seniors] Exciting! A Collection of Game Ideas Using Uchiwa (Japanese Hand Fans)
- [For Seniors] Recreations to Experience in August
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- Activities perfect for July for seniors: Introducing games and recreational options
- [For Seniors] Recreational activities and games that let you have fun while strengthening your legs
- [For Seniors] Fun Even Without Sight! Recreation Ideas
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- For Seniors: Festive Attractions to Liven Up Festivals—Games and Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] August Health Tips: How to Enjoy and Stay Comfortable During the Hot Summer
- [For Seniors] Highlights of Fun Events at Day-Service Centers
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
[For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities (71–80)
Balloon scooping
Here’s a very simple and easy activity that still requires balance and really gets everyone excited: Balloon Scooping.
You know the small water balloons used for yo-yo fishing at summer festivals? For Balloon Scooping, use those balloons, but inflate them without water.
Place about 10 balloons on a flat surface like a table, set a box next to them, and use a handheld fan (uchiwa) to scoop up the balloons and put them into the box.
How many seconds will it take to get all the balloons in? The balloons float and wobble, making them hard to scoop—which makes the game even more fun.
Sending things with a uchiwa (fan)
To cope with the heat, many households use handheld fans (uchiwa) in summer.
“Uchiwa Item Pass” is a simple recreation game that uses these fans.
The idea is to place an item on top of the uchiwa and keep passing it along to the next person, making it easy for older adults to join in.
It’s also highly recommended as a recreational game for intergenerational交流.
Ping-pong ball scooping
Speaking of classic summer festival attractions, there’s goldfish scooping and super ball scooping.
If you have a frame to serve as the base for the scooping tool called a “poi,” you can recreate something similar at home using a washbasin.
Using tissue paper instead of the special paper makes it easy.
You can scoop ping-pong balls, but try various items that float in water to find what’s easiest to scoop.
Smoked food making
When it comes to BBQs, grilling meat and vegetables is the classic choice.
As a twist, how about trying your hand at smoking bacon or eggs? There are kits available that let you easily smoke foods both at home and outdoors, so it’s also fun to try different types of wood chips and enjoy the variations in flavor.
fireworks festival
When it comes to traditional summer pastimes that everyone—from adults to children—can enjoy, watching fireworks surely comes to mind.
For many older adults, seeing fireworks light up the pitch-dark night sky may bring back a variety of memories.
The way sounds, shapes, and colors appear and fade in succession also seems likely to have a positive effect on the brain.
Please make sure older viewers are comfortable, paying attention to posture and other needs.
It might also be nice to ask them afterward how they felt about the fireworks.
Beach Ball Balancing Game
Let’s liven things up with the “Beach Ball Toss Game,” perfect for boosting those summer vibes using a beach ball and an inner tube! Place the inner tube by a wall or similar spot, then from a short distance, kick a beach ball placed on the floor and try to land it inside the inner tube—success if it goes in! You can also play as teams, sitting in a circle around the inner tube and kicking the beach ball back and forth toward the target.
It can be played while seated, so everyone can enjoy it.
Plus, it doubles as light leg and core training—a fun and practical recreation!
Ring toss game in pairs
When we think of ring toss, it’s usually a game where you throw rings toward a target on the ground.
But let’s try a cooperative version you can enjoy in pairs: the “Pair Ring Toss Game”! Sit facing each other on chairs.
One person throws the rings, and the other holds a stick and becomes the target.
While the target person could stay still, in this game they can move the stick to try to catch the ring—so the target moves.
Take turns being the thrower and the target.
The team’s score is the total of both players’ points.