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

Hanagasa Ondo, a dance performed with fans in hand

One-Hand Dance 🌟 Remake of “Hanagasa Ondo” — Dance beautifully with one hand. Prepare a fan (uchiwa).

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is held in Yamagata during the summer.

As one of the four major festivals of the Tohoku region, it reportedly attracts about one million visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.

Dancers don hanagasa hats and perform along to the song “Hanagasa Ondo.” Why not try bringing this summer festival from Yamagata Prefecture into senior care facilities as well? You can substitute the hanagasa with a uchiwa fan for the dance.

Using a fan allows you to express movements that look graceful and elegant with either one hand or both.

The dance can be done while seated, and its gentle motions are likely to bring smiles to the faces of older adults.

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Snack activity: shaved ice

Warakuen: the full-fledged summer has arrived — shaved ice is delicious.

Summer festivals are fun events, but because they get very crowded, older adults may be hesitant to attend.

So why not try making shaved ice for a snack activity at your facility or during dessert time at home? Home-use shaved ice machines are relatively affordable, and you can enjoy the classic summer treat by starting from shaving the ice yourself.

Prepare a few different syrups and pour them however you like.

Adding fruit or sweetened condensed milk can make for a more luxurious shaved ice.

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Snack Activity: Sky-Blue Jelly

[Super Easy] Fun Snack Activity #BlueSkyJelly #DayCare #OutpatientRehab #ElderCare #Seniors

If you’re unsure what to make for an August snack activity, why not try this “Blue Sky Jelly”? It’s easy: just mix, set, and layer in a container! Make the blue jelly with dissolved gelatin, soda, and blue syrup.

For the white jelly, mix gelatin, milk, and undiluted lactic acid drink.

After mixing the ingredients, chill them in the refrigerator.

Once the jellies are set, layer them alternately in a container to create a sky effect.

Finish with vanilla ice cream and a cherry on top if you like.

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shaved ice making

Looks just like the real thing!? Perfect for summer! Fluffy shaved ice 🍧☁️ #preschoolcrafts #nurseryteacher #teachingideas #traineenurseryteacher #teacherlife #cotton #paint #easycraft #shavedice #summer

Here’s a very simple craft idea for shaved ice.

Prepare a paper cup, cotton, paint, and crayons.

First, use a crayon to write the character for “ice” (氷) and draw wave patterns on the paper cup.

Stuff the cup with cotton, then add color with paint to represent syrup—that’s it! By changing the paint colors, you can make shaved ice with different syrups.

If you make a few and display them along a wall, they’ll make lovely decorations for a festival event.

Give it a try!

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Soran-bushi exercise

Everyone’s rehabilitation exercise: “Soran Bushi”

The Soran Bushi, a folk song from Hokkaido, is probably a song that many older adults have heard at least once.

These days, it’s often performed at school sports festivals as well.

Some of you may even remember watching your children or grandchildren dance to it at their sports day.

Let’s try doing some exercises to the familiar Soran Bushi melody.

Since the movements are done while seated, even those who find it difficult to stand can participate.

It would also be exciting for everyone to dance together at a summer festival.

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Nakajima Junko

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Singing and exercise medley of summer children’s songs

Summer Children's Songs [Singing & Exercise Medley: 8 Picks] Full-Body Rhythm Exercises for Seniors That Can Be Done While Seated

As an indoor exercise activity, seated calisthenics are a classic choice.

Even while sitting, you can move your body well and refresh your mood, so give it a try and dance along.

You can use any music you like, but if you want something widely recognized that everyone can hum to, summer children’s songs are recommended.

There are plenty of summer-themed nursery songs such as “Kamome no Suiheisan” (Seagull Sailor), “Fujinoyama” (Mount Fuji), and “Ware wa Umi no Ko” (Child of the Sea), so pick some popular tunes.

Loosen up your body by spreading your arms and marching your feet to the rhythm!

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Shooting game

Best bang for your buck! A shooting-gallery game and recreation that will absolutely excite everyone from kids to seniors — how to make the setup and how to play

Here’s an idea for making a rubber band shooter from scrap materials.

You’ll need a plastic wrap tube, a toilet paper tube, rubber bands, and vinyl tape.

Connect two rubber bands together, then tape both ends of the rubber band to the rim of the toilet paper tube with vinyl tape.

Adjust the knot so it sits right in the center of the tube, and reinforce the sides by covering them with vinyl tape.

Cut small notches in the rim of the plastic wrap tube so the rubber band can catch there, and you’re done.

To fire, slide the plastic wrap tube through a toilet paper tube that will be your projectile, pull the projectile back, and let go.

The toilet paper tube will shoot forward with a satisfying burst of speed.

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