[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
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- [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 (31–40)
Curling
Curling is an easy table game to set up.
Connect desks to make a long, narrow curling course.
Mark lines for 10, 50, and 100 points, and have the thrower sit at one end of the table.
For the stones, you can just use golf balls covered with paper cups.
If you release them straight so they slide, they’ll glide smoothly like in real curling.
If everyone gathers around the table, it feels like you’re watching a match, so people can enjoy it while staying seated.
Present Balance Game
This is a game that lets you enjoy the challenge of balancing, inspired by a Christmas tree.
You stack toilet paper rolls with slits opened up and paper plates alternately to resemble a tree, and place them on a present box without letting it topple over.
By using a paper plate for the base of the tree as well, intentionally creating a wobbly structure, players are encouraged to pay close attention to balance when placing the boxes.
Put care into decorating the tree, presents, and the whole setup so participants can feel the Christmas atmosphere while focusing on their hand movements.
Nikoniko Exercises: Snow
Using your fingertips, arms, elbows, shoulders, and other parts of the upper body, it becomes a fun way to train your body.
At this point, it’s practically a proper dance, isn’t it? It resembles sign language and contemporary movement, expressing winter scenes through the body.
Dancing together creates a sense of unity and makes for enjoyable communication.
There’s no difficult choreography—it’s easy to learn—so those in care facilities or family members, please give it a try!
Mini Kadomatsu Making
If it’s the New Year season, handmade kadomatsu are also recommended.
You can make mini kadomatsu using construction paper and toilet paper rolls! There’s work like making pine needles by cutting thin slits in the paper and wrapping them around a bamboo skewer.
If someone isn’t confident using scissors, please keep a close eye on them.
It’s detailed handiwork, so it takes time, but since it’s a festive New Year’s decoration, you’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment when it’s finished!
Winter Song Exercises
As a recreation that lets you enjoy a winter atmosphere, let me introduce exercises that use winter children’s songs.
First, for song selection: if you want to move your body rhythmically, “Yuki” is a good choice, and if you prefer a gentle mood, “Ski” is recommended.
There are many videos available that show exercise routines choreographed to each song, so feel free to use them as references.
Some routines can be done seated, moving just the hands and feet, so choose according to your preference.
Around New Year’s, it’s also nice to try songs like “Ichigatsu Tsuitachi” and “Oshogatsu.”
[For Seniors] Fun Winter Activities: Recreation and Games (41–50)
Battledore with a balloon
When it comes to traditional New Year’s games, hanetsuki comes to mind.
Since using a hagoita paddle and a hard-feathered shuttlecock can sometimes be dangerous, balloon hanetsuki is recommended for recreational play! Use colorful balloons instead of the shuttlecock, and make the paddles out of cardboard or thick paper.
It’s also fun to draw your favorite designs or decorate them with stickers.
This is a great way to enjoy a bright and festive New Year’s atmosphere.
Making a pine cone tree
In winter, you can find pine cones under pine trees that have opened their scales and released their seeds.
Why not use those pine cones to make a Christmas tree? Decorate them with paints, nail polish, pipe cleaners, and beads.
For the base of the tree, use a bottle cap.
Wrapping the bottle cap with wrapping paper makes it look cute.
Once you glue the decorated pine cone onto the base, it’s complete.
The detailed work stimulates the brain, so it’s highly recommended.
Enjoy making your own Christmas tree with an original design!
