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[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games
We’d like to introduce recreational activities and games that older adults can enjoy during the still-chilly winter season.
Winter is full of occasions like New Year’s and Valentine’s Day.
Many senior and care facilities may be planning events that match these occasions.
With our “Recreation and Games for Older Adults to Enjoy in Winter,” your events might become even more enjoyable.
We also have ideas for activities that are usually played outdoors but can be done in a warm indoor setting.
From activities you can focus on and enjoy alone to ones that a small group can tackle together and get excited about, we’ve prepared a wide variety.
We hope everyone can fully enjoy winter indoors while still feeling the season.
[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games (1–10)
Plastic-bottle kendama
If you’re looking for an indoor game you can play just with your hands, a plastic-bottle kendama is a great option.
Cut a plastic bottle in half and use the mouth-side as the handle, then use the cap as the ball! Stick a string inside a cap, attach two caps together to make the ball, thread the string through the bottle’s mouth, wrap any extra string around the outside, and tape it down to finish.
It’s a good arm workout and also helps improve concentration.
New Year’s gift envelope game
Even as adults, we never forget the happiness of receiving New Year’s gift money when we were children.
It’s a once-a-year special day, which is why it stays in our memories.
Many seniors probably look forward to giving New Year’s money to their grandchildren or relatives, too! The recreation we’re introducing this time is a game where you toss beanbags into cups labeled with different amounts of money.
It’s exciting to see your total increase with each beanbag that lands in a cup.
It’s also fun to turn it into a friendly competition with everyone.
Setsubun game
Setsubun is a traditional Japanese event held every year on February 3.
Bean-throwing is said to ward off evil spirits and also carries the meaning of driving away demons.
Let’s cast out bad energy and invite good fortune as we head into a new year! The Setsubun activity introduced here is a game where you roll a ball toward an oni (demon) mask.
Getting the ball into the box is surprisingly tricky and might be a real challenge.
Those with experience in golf or gateball might find this recreation to be their specialty.
Compete together and have fun!
Bean-throwing (Mamemaki)
Speaking of Setsubun, bean-throwing is the classic event, isn’t it? Many of you probably grew up shouting “Demons out!” toward the outside of the house and “Good fortune in!” toward the inside as you threw the beans.
Let’s try that same time-honored tradition here at the facility this time.
We won’t be using beans, though—we’ll use peanuts.
Since it can hurt if they hit people, we’ll place an oni (demon) mask on the table and aim at it, throwing to knock the demon down! If everyone hits the demon with their beans and topples it, it feels like we’ll drive out the bad energy that’s built up inside, too.
Spinning tops
Watching a spinning top twirl around and around is so much fun that you never get tired of it, right? Some of you might even recall competing with friends to see whose top would keep spinning the longest without stopping.
The typical top uses a string wound around it and takes a bit of skill to launch, but you can also make an easy version by folding origami into shape and attaching a toothpick—highly recommended because it’s simple to make.
Colorful tops can even be displayed in your room after you’re done playing with them.
Christmas gift exchange
Christmas is such a special time, isn’t it? Many older adults might remember that when they were children, they rarely received presents.
This time, we’ll play a musical-chair-style game where you pass a Christmas present to the person next to you in time with the music.
When the music stops, whoever is holding the present gets to keep it.
It’s exciting to wonder what kind of gift you’ll receive, isn’t it? The present you chose might even come back to you—what a fun twist that would be! This recreation also works as brain-training exercise, so it helps strengthen both mind and body.
First shrine visit of the year at the day-service center shrine
Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year) carries the meaning of giving thanks for the previous year and wishing for happiness in the year to come.
It’s said that going during the first three days of the New Year is best, but some people want to avoid crowds, and some older adults can’t go due to their health.
For such seniors, we recommend doing Hatsumode at a day-service “shrine.” This involves setting up a shrine within the facility and paying a visit there.
Because it can be enjoyed indoors, it’s not only safe, but also unaffected by the winter cold.
If you make a torii gate, you can create a more authentic visit.
Preparing omikuji (fortune slips) also lets everyone try their luck for the year, making it even more enjoyable.