[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: Recreations and Games (11–20)
Candy Shot Game
@hirose_ds TranslationElderlyRecreation#ChristmasEventChristmas Eve
♬ Christmas Eve Rap – KICK THE CAN CREW
Doesn’t Christmas make your heart flutter no matter how old you are? Wonderful gifts, sumptuous dishes—and above all, the presents are the most exciting part, aren’t they? This time, we’re introducing a recreation game that seniors will love.
Perfect for Christmas, it’s the Candy Shot Game.
Aim for Santa’s or the reindeer’s mouth and toss colorful balls.
How many can you get in? It’s a game that sparks a healthy competitive spirit and helps focus both mind and body.
And at the end, let’s all exchange presents like Christmas candles, gloves, and wreaths.
Making seven-herb rice porridge
Seven Herb Porridge (nanakusa-gayu), associated with the “Festival of Seven Herbs” on January 7, includes spring harbingers like water dropwort (seri), shepherd’s purse (nazuna), and cudweed (gogyō), among others.
In Japan, there is a long-standing tradition of eating these seven herbs to pray for good health in the new year.
Please take this opportunity for both older adults and staff to make it together.
Identifying the seven herbs and actually preparing the porridge can be a great chance for older adults to share their knowledge and experience.
This time, when conversations naturally blossom, becomes a place for intergenerational exchange.
It is also a wonderful opportunity to foster a sense of unity among older adults as they gather around the seven-herb porridge.
Sharing the warm porridge everyone made together will bring a warmth that makes you almost forget the winter cold.
New Year’s card making
@mtkyotaku_sv Sending this to my precious family 🤗💌💕 By the way… next year is my zodiac year—I’m a Dragon 🐉❣️Fee-based nursing home#OmogariTsubaki#New Year's card
♬ New Year’s song with cute koto and piano(940642) – Pikarun
How about making New Year’s cards as a December recreation activity? While many people have recently stopped sending New Year’s cards, there are still older adults who would like to send them.
Let’s incorporate New Year’s card making into recreation for those seniors.
Encourage them to send cards to family members or acquaintances.
As we age, it can sometimes be hard to find someone close to send a card to.
In such cases, it could be nice to send one to someone they want to thank, such as a care manager or a home helper.
Both the sender and the recipient will be happy.
Savings Game
@onevision_promo Challenge the saving challenge game!CaregivingNursing care facility#Christmas#Nursing home#GraceVillaMoriguchi
♬ Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
For Christmas and New Year’s, lively group recreation is highly recommended.
Since Christmas often includes gift exchanges, it’s fun for everyone to bring a present and play a stacking game together.
The excitement comes from seeing how high you can stack the gifts.
To stack them well, you have to consider the overall balance, so it also serves as brain training.
Plus, there’s the thrill of not knowing when the pile will topple.
The charm of the stacking game lies in experiencing that delicate sense of touch!
karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards)
Haven’t we all played karuta at least once? The classic type is Hyakunin Isshu, but there are also sets with cute illustrations that everyone—from children to adults—can enjoy.
It’s fun to look at, exciting to search for the right card, and it gives your brain a little workout too! It’s great with a small group, but you can play with a crowd as well, so bring it out when family or friends gather!
New Year’s party
Some people may feel that exchanging New Year’s greetings only through cards is a bit lonely.
You’d rather meet in person and enjoy a lively chat, right? In that case, how about hosting a New Year’s gathering? Invite people you feel comfortable with—friends you see regularly, folks you meet at a senior facility, or members of a club or hobby group—and spend a pleasant time together.
If it’s just for a few hours, you don’t need elaborate dishes—simple is fine! At New Year’s parties held in care facilities, performances by the staff can also be a highlight.
It would be wonderful if older adults could start the year feeling cheerful and uplifted!
[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreations and Games (21–30)
Setsubun Newspaper Bean-Throwing Game
February, when the cold is at its peak.
Why not try a seasonal newspaper bean-throwing game? This is a recreation activity tailored for Setsubun.
First, hand out newspapers, tear them into pieces, and crumple them into “beans.” The beans can be any size—large or small.
This process also serves as a finger and hand exercise.
Next, set up a box with an oni (demon) face on it and have participants throw the beans into it.
You can make it a point-based game by competing to see who gets the most beans in the box, which is sure to liven things up.
Or, everyone can work together to fill the box with beans.
