[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] Recommended in December! Safe and Fun Indoor Recreation
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
- [For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- [For Seniors] Easy and fun seated activities you can do in your room
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Indoor Activities! Recreations and Games That Engage the Mind and Body
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- [For Seniors] Winter Haiku: Introducing Beautiful Masterpieces by Famous Haiku Poets
- For Seniors: Fun Activities in February — Celebrate Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Snow
[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games (1–10)
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.
[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreations and Games (11–20)
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!
Making Oni (ogre) masks/crafts for Setsubun
Oni have long been known as calamity-bringing deities of misfortune.
Although oni are considered evil beings, they’re undeniably the stars of Setsubun! This time, let’s make an oni using a milk carton.
It’s fun that there are many different kinds of oni, isn’t it? I recommend creating the face of an oni as you imagine it and enjoying the process.
You can make it scary, or go for a charming, cute oni—both have their own appeal.
Add hair and horns to craft your own style of oni mask.
For Setsubun, it’s also fun to put on an oni mask and really get into character.
Good Luck Fortune Slip
Many people look forward to visiting a shrine for the first prayer of the New Year and drawing an omikuji fortune.
For seniors who find it difficult to go for hatsumode, this lucky omikuji is highly recommended.
Whether you get “great blessing,” “middle blessing,” or “small blessing” depends on your luck! There are also some omikuji with amusing messages, so be sure to enjoy those too.
Plus, it includes exercise routines, making it a great way to get some movement during the New Year holidays.
Drawing an omikuji to test your luck can also help lift your spirits and keep you feeling positive.
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.
