[For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced

vegetable garden

Vegetable garden at day care—can’t wait for summer!

How about trying a home vegetable garden this summer? Summer is the season when you can harvest plenty of vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants, and many of them are relatively easy to grow, so it’s reassuring even for beginners.

There’s something special about eating vegetables you grew yourself, whether in salads or pickles.

If you get a big harvest, you can even save on food costs, making it a great way to enjoy summer that kills two birds with one stone.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Takoyaki Game

[Indoor Recreation for Seniors] 'Takoyaki Game' using plastic bottle caps, egg cartons, and chopsticks

It’s said that using their hands can help prevent dementia in older adults.

Summer is also festival season, so the takoyaki game is a great recommendation.

In this game, you place plastic bottle caps in an egg carton and flip them over using chopsticks.

It’s trickier than you’d expect, making it perfect for training dexterity—and it really livens up as a game, too.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Making wind chimes with washi (Japanese paper)

Day service craft simple kit elderly recreation summer washi paper wind chime

When you think of summer, you think of the cool sound of wind chimes.

Glass ones are common, but if you attach a small bell, you can handcraft wind chimes from materials other than glass that make a charming chime.

Using a papier-mâché balloon—made by pasting washi paper onto a round mold and letting it dry—is an easy and safe method, and it lets you savor a traditional atmosphere, so give it a try.

A Quiz of Hard-to-Read Kanji Related to Summer

[Difficult Kanji Related to Summer] 20 Questions! A Challenging Summer Kanji Quiz [For Seniors]

Here’s a quiz of hard-to-read kanji related to summer! There are 20 questions in total—how many can you read? Most of the kanji introduced are on the easier side of the “difficult” spectrum, and some, like 甲虫 and 水瓜, are ones you can guess by thinking of the keywords “kanji” and “summer” even if you can’t read them at first.

If you’re great with kanji, it might feel a bit too easy, but problems you can figure out with a bit of thought may get everyone more engaged than completely unguessable ones.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy recreation activity, definitely try enjoying it as a quiz!

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sasashina

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Watermelon splitting

Unbreakable Watermelon-Splitting Contest!!

When you think of summer, you think of the beach—and when you think of the beach, you think of watermelon splitting.

So why not try it this summer? While it’s often seen as an outdoor activity, it can be plenty of fun indoors too! Be sure to keep safety in mind to prevent injuries, especially for older participants.

It’s a great, easy way to enjoy a summery vibe!

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Saitō Ayumu

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Tokyo Ondo: Senior Exercise

[Senior Exercise] Summer Festival Bon Odori Exercise Dance Compilation Video ① #elderly_care #dance #exercise #exercise_dance #aging_issue #health #stretching #physical_therapist #workout

Some older adults may have danced in yukata at summer festivals, right? There are many different bon-odori songs across Japan.

Each region has its own distinctive style, and “Tokyo Ondo” is one of them.

Its lively call-and-response shouts like “Hai-hai!” and “Yoisho!” are characteristic.

The choreography and the sound of the shamisen further enhance the festive atmosphere.

Of course, it’s also nice to dance while seated.

Since this song is used to cheer for the Yakult Swallows, it may also appeal to older adults who enjoy baseball.

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Nakajima Junko

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Snack activity: Tanabata jelly

In July, there’s an event called Tanabata.

Tanabata features legends about the Milky Way, Hikoboshi, and Orihime—stars and constellations that shine in the night sky.

Let’s try making a jelly inspired by Tanabata.

For the night sky, we’ll make a jelly using Blue Hawaii shaved ice syrup.

For the stars, it might be nice to add pieces of cut fruit.

Put the set jelly and fruit into cups, and it’s done.

Since it can be made while sitting at a table, many older adults should be able to participate.

Working together may also spark conversations with the people around you.

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Nakajima Junko

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