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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)
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.
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.
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.
Flying Fukuwarai
What do you all do for fun over the New Year holidays? If you haven’t decided yet, I recommend playing fukuwarai.
There’s even a saying that if you play fukuwarai at the start of the year, you’ll spend the whole year smiling.
The version I’m introducing today is a “flying fukuwarai,” where you make the fukuwarai face without a blindfold.
Sit in a circle with everyone and, one by one, create whatever kind of face you like and have fun! You sit in chairs and toss the facial parts, so if they don’t land where you intended, you’ll end up with a funny face.
But that’s part of the charm—enjoy it with lots of laughter!
lion dance
The lion dance is performed on auspicious days such as New Year’s and festival days.
It’s said that if the lion bites your head, it drives away evil spirits and brings protection from misfortune.
Although its face may look scary at first glance, if you look closely, it’s actually quite cute.
This time, I’d like to introduce the Lion Dance Omikuji.
What kind of luck will we have this year? Many older adults, in particular, worry about their health.
For many people, the greatest wish is to have a healthy and happy year.
It would be wonderful for such people to draw an omikuji and spend time enjoying themselves while wishing for happiness in the days to come.
Making Fukuwarai Cookies
There’s a saying that if you play Fukuwarai at New Year’s, you’ll spend the year happily.
As the proverb goes, “Good fortune and happiness will come to the home of those who smile,” and spending your days with laughter can boost your immunity and invite lots of good things.
This time, let’s try making Fukuwarai cookies.
We’ll design them with icing on cookie shapes.
Since it involves detailed work, it’s recommended that older adults cooperate and make them together.
Even if the designs aren’t perfect, the key is to enjoy the process of making the cookies.
Make eyes, a nose, and a mouth out of cookies, and have fun playing Fukuwarai!