[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games

Ehomaki Rolling Game

[Setsubun Activity] Brain training + finger/hand rehab with the Ehomaki Rolling Game!

We eat ehomaki on Setsubun, right? This “Ehomaki Rolling Game” is a ritual to ward off bad luck where you make ehomaki using a non-slip mat and white filter paper from a 100-yen shop, and colored paper sticks as the fillings.

The wrapping order is: nori (seaweed) → rice → tuna → cucumber → egg → shiitake mushrooms → sakura denbu (sweet pink fish flakes).

Once it’s rolled, face that year’s lucky direction and say, “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (Demons out, luck in), and teammates should celebrate the exorcism by shouting “Banzai!” You can split into two teams and have each person make an ehomaki in turn to see which team finishes first, or skip the competition and just enjoy it together as an event.

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sasashina

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Hand play song “Daruma-san, let’s have a staring contest”

Daruma-san, let’s play a staring game [children’s play song]

The Daruma-san hand play song is very famous, isn’t it? Almost everyone probably remembers singing and playing it as a child.

It’s a simple game where two people face each other, sing, and at “appuppu” make a funny face to make the other laugh, but it’s fun even for adults.

Making different expressions uses your facial muscles, and thinking about what face to make is a good workout for your brain.

Even if you lose, it leaves you smiling, so it’s a game that brightens the mood.

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Tani Satoko

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Making next year’s calendar

[Calendar Making] A classic event at our day service. We choose a seasonal theme and create next month’s calendar. (Shōwa Wago-kai Social Welfare Corporation)

Creating next year’s calendar is a lovely winter recreation for older adults.

Using torn-paper collage makes it a fun, creative activity.

By cutting out or tearing your favorite materials—newspapers, magazines, or colored paper—you can craft a one-of-a-kind calendar.

As you keep your hands moving and let your imagination expand, your concentration will naturally improve.

Enjoying it together with friends can also become a wonderful memory for the coming year.

Savor the sense of accomplishment from making it yourself, and let your anticipation for the new year grow.

Christmas exercises you can do while sitting in a chair

A Christmas sing-along exercise you can do while seated [Jingle Bells] — a fun rhythm workout for seniors and older adults. Song by: ukureremaskman

Here’s an introduction to Christmas exercises you can do while sitting in a chair.

Let’s move along to Christmas songs, stretching your arms and moving your legs.

These exercises are expected to improve blood circulation and help reduce swelling.

Many older adults have probably heard or sung Christmas songs at least once, right? Exercises set to familiar songs seem easier to try.

Some of the choreography also matches the imagery of the lyrics, making it easier to remember and move your body.

It’s fine to wait until you’re used to it, but try singing while you exercise!

A spinning top made from a milk carton

"牛乳パックでこまをつくろう" → "Let's make spinning tops from milk cartons!"

Making spinning tops using milk cartons is a wonderful activity that lets you use your hands while having fun.

Be mindful of safety and work together with older adults as you proceed.

You can enjoy creating original designs by drawing favorite patterns on the surface of the top or decorating it with masking tape.

The finished tops are light and easy to carry, so it would be great to hold a spinning-top contest and have fun together.

Through this craft, participants can express creativity and communicate with those around them, making for an enjoyable time.

It’s likely to become a lovely activity that brings lots of smiles to older adults.

Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK New Year’s Eve “Red and White Song Battle”)

Day Service Asumiru! Today’s recreation: a Red and White Singing Contest-style event

How about enjoying the Red and White Song Battle? Singing helps deepen your breathing and can support cardiovascular health.

Singing together and clapping along also expand opportunities for communication.

Belting out your voice can lift your spirits, too.

In addition to classics by Hibari Misora and Saburō Kitajima, it’s great to let older participants choose the songs they love.

When everyone moves to the rhythm and cheers each other on, the whole venue fills with a warm atmosphere.

With the power of music, it’s sure to be a wonderful time that makes you forget the cold.

Daruma-otoshi

Daruma Otoshi!

It may look simple, but the Daruma-otoshi game is actually quite tricky.

It’s a nostalgic pastime that’s been around for ages, but the quick, perfectly horizontal hand movement it requires can be surprisingly hard.

It comes in various sizes, and the smaller the set, the more precise your movements need to be, which increases the difficulty.

Ready-made sets are available, so there’s hardly any preparation needed.

You can play it on a table and pass the tool around in turn, making it an easy, highly recommended party game.

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Tani Satoko

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