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Information on Games to Play With Seniors

Age gaps make spending time with people difficult; it's hard to find common ground and things you can both relate to. This is especially difficult when the age gap is between youngsters and senior citizens. Still, spending time with your elders is important not only for your own development, but also for the care and well-being of your elders. Do not let age get in the way; seniors like to have fun, too.

Traditional Board and Card Games
- Many senior citizens are avid fans of traditional board and card games. According to the Chesterfield Observer, the community newspaper for Chesterfield County, Virginia, every week the community center hosts time where senior citizens can gather and play games such as poker, bingo, Monopoly and dominoes. As Gwen Sadler, writer for the Chesterfield Observer, explains, senior citizens enjoy the games because they keep them busy, keep their minds sharp and help them socialize.
  
  The next time you are visiting a senior citizen, a sure-fire way to have some fun is to pull out an old board game or to learn a new card game. There are many different options for you to choose from. Pick your favorite board game as a kid, or ask your elder to teach you a new game. Dominoes and cards have thousands of different games to play, from Chicken-foot to Mexican Train (for dominoes) or poker to hearts (for cards), seniors enjoy sitting around a table playing table games.
Modern Games: Nintendo Wii
- If you visit the Chaplain Senior Center in Vermont, you might see an unusual sight: senior citizens playing Wii bowling and other Wii sports games. This, according to WCAX.com, has been an instant hit for the senior citizens. According to Jack Thurston of WCAX news, the Nintendo Wii offers senior citizens a fun way to keep their hand-eye coordination sharp and to get a little exercise as well. Since the Nintendo Wii is an interactive video game machine, the player must simulate the action in order for the game to work. For example, if you are bowling on the Wii, you must move your controller as if you were rolling an actual bowling ball; you need to keep your wrist straight and keep your arm from straying from side to side. If you do it right, the ball on the screen will bowl toward the pins.
Outdoor Games
- The above sections deal with games that can be played inside. However, there are many games you can play with seniors outside. Just keep in mind that, in general, seniors are not as agile or athletic as they once were, so pick games that do not require a lot of athletic ability. Games such as bocce ball (lawn bowling), shuffle board and badminton are great games to play with seniors. If it's a nice day, head outdoors and play an easy-going game with the seniors.

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