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Do you like the idea of sit down games for senior citizens and do you think it is a good time-passer as well as exercise? If so, then this article will be very helpful to you.

Sit down games are a great way for seniors to get their exercise while sitting down, which is important since many seniors do not move around enough. Sit down games also provide an opportunity for socializing and mental stimulation- two things that can be hard when your mobility decreases with age. Therefore, in this article I am going to tell you some sit down games for elderly that are easy and fun.

If anyone is looking for some things to do when retired and bored, hopefully, those game ideas will help him/her to keep refreshed. Let’s see more details about those games-

# Chess

A two-player strategic board game played on a chessboard, which is a checkered game board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. Chess is basically a mind game and is popular for senior citizens to play because it is easy to learn but difficult to master. The basic objective of the game is to checkmate your opponent’s king. You can do so by attacking its central squares or by capturing one of his pieces.

The game is played on a board comprising of 64 squares. You have to follow certain rules for moving the chess pieces. A chess game starts with an empty board and players place their white and black men in alternate turns, one at a time on the blank squares. The game ends when one of the kings gets captured.

Several studies have found that playing chess can help seniors improve their cognitive functions. It is also said that playing the game regularly at any age would not only delay memory loss but also improve one’s cognitive functioning by several years. So, if you want to protect yourself against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in your old age, play chess.

Chess is also a fun game with lots of interesting twists and turns. It is a great way to spend an hour with friends or relatives in the evening after dinner.

# Boggle

Boggle is a word game that can be played by two or more players. Players take turns making words from adjacent letters on the board, and receive points for doing so. The player with the highest score wins the game.

How to play:

Players should shake up the dice in a container and take out three tiles at a time (keeping them concealed from the other players), looking at them without telling anyone.

When a player chooses a tile to use, he/she must make a legal word using the three tiles – placing the chosen tile in front of him/herself for everyone to see – and then pass it on to the next player. Now you can use any of your chosen three tiles to make another word. The next player can use one of his/her chosen three tiles for another legal word or take any tile that is not being used by anyone in the game. The letters must be adjacent to each other, but they do not have to form a straight line on the grid nor do they have to go from left to right or top to bottom.

Whenever a player thinks that he/she has made words with all of his/her tiles, they can call for an official who will make sure the player’s submitted words are legal. After this step is done, the player collects points by adding up all of their word scores together. There are bonuses for having at least three Boggle words in one row, which is why you should try to get rid of your tiles before calling for the official.

Look at this example:

The player would have 7 points because they have four boggle words in one row (bot, ice, cone, and bee). They also have a bonus of three more points because they have at least three Boggle words in one row. When players run out of tiles, the official collects those, and he/she will check again to make sure nothing is missing or irregular. After this step is done, you can call for another round!

As long as you are playing with more than one other person, the game should never take more than 5 minutes to complete. If you are playing with 1 or 2 players, use 4 tiles each instead of 3. The player with the most points wins!

# Cup Stacking

Sit down games for seniors can be great fun. Cup stacking is a variation of the classic cup and ball game, where you stack up many plastic cups in a tower formation before trying to knock them down with a wooden or foam baton. This activity helps improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while requiring some physical effort.

How to play:

This is a good activity because you only need cups and water. Fill up your cups and stack them into a tower. Line-up the bottom layer of cups in two columns, then add another row on top with one cup below each other behind the first column. Fill four more rows like this until you have a nice tall structure! You can make it as high or low as you would like to suit your needs.

Once you are ready, give yourself one shot with the wooden stick to knock them all down! The more cups that fall over, the better.  You can also try playing it standing up if sitting is too difficult.

# Solitaire

Solitaire is one of the oldest games in the United States, dating back to something called “Patience”, introduced around 1900. Today, conventional solitaire is played with five cards placed face down on a table with one card turned over each turn by drawing from a deck that has been shuffled into 48 or 52 cards. The goal is to move the cards into their respective piles by invoking rules related to similar cards (such as alternating colors or suits). Solitaire is one of the most popular games in nursing homes, possibly because it has no winners or losers.

How to Play:

Solitaire typically involves players creating four stacks of cards (also called “piles” or “courses”) in the following manner:

The first course is built up by suit from Ace to King. Then the second course consists of two cards, one atop the other, both below the Queen level without regard to whether they are a legal pairing or not. The third course has three cards, again with any mix of colors and suits, but now going all the way to the Jack level. The fourth course is built up in a similar fashion, but going from King all the way to Ace.

# Sudoku

Sudoku is a logic puzzle. It is popular in the world. Sudoku is a sit down game that provides cognitive stimulation and helps develop memory skills. The goal of this puzzle is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, row, and region contains all of the numbers from 1 to 9. Each puzzle comprises a unique solution that can be reached rationally.

How to Play:

To Play Sudoku you fill in a grid, which is divided into nine smaller squares (3×3). The numbers one through nine must appear only once in each column, row and three by three section. Some of the squares are pre-filled with digits and the player’s task is to fill in the rest. The numbers can appear in any orientation. The beauty of Sudoku is that it is self-correcting; if you make a mistake, it will be revealed when you fill in the rest of the squares. If you enjoy challenging yourself with numeral manipulations, Sudoku is definitely a must-try!

# Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are a good thing to do. They help you think. They make your brain better. If you are old, they can help you live longer.

How to play:

Sit down with your puzzle on a table. Sit next to it so you can reach the pieces easier. Keep track of what piece goes where by drawing an X or putting something in there that fits until all the pieces are put back together again!

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to occupy yourself and help keep the mind sharp.  They require a lot of focus and problem-solving skills, which is something that seniors often lack due to a decline in mental activity. Sit down games for senior citizens can be great fun.

# Musical Ball

Musical Ball is a game create by Mondo. This game provides the player with many different types of music. Musical Ball is a sit-down game that provides cognitive stimulation and helps develop memory skills. The goal of this puzzle is to help Musical Ball get all the music notes together in the right place. This game can be very enjoyable as one of the retirement party games.

How to Play:

To Play Musical Ball you must put all of the music notes in the 9×9 grid together in groups according to color, without repeating a note twice in a row. If Musical Ball is successful, you will see many different types of fun and happy music. In musical ball, the player must play the music correctly with guidance from the computer guide, making sure to place each block in the right space on the grid. This game helps develop memory skills and cognitive stimulation.

# Monopoly

Monopoly is a game of critical thinking and strategy. It can be played by anyone around the world, using an easily understandable set of rules while still providing enough complexity to keep everyone engaged and on their toes.

Monopoly has been used for teaching economic systems in schools across the country for many generations now, and it’s hard to imagine exactly what it is about this game that has managed to keep us all hooked for so long. You can play Monopoly alone, against one other player, or you can try and beat everyone at the table.

How to Play:

To Play Monopoly you must buy property and earn money by charging rent on your real estate holdings and businesses. While collecting rent, you can improve your property with houses and hotels. If you land on other player’s property without a hotel or house, you must pay them rent. However, if you have built a hotel there then you can charge triple the amount of normal rent. To buy a property that someone else owns, you must either pay them for it in cash or trade property with them.

In Monopoly, the player’s task is to accumulate enough wealth by whatever means necessary so that he can become the wealthiest person at the table. This game helps develop financial literacy and teaches about economic concepts such as supply and demand and interest.

# Crosswords

Board games that are played on a flat surface, such as the ground or floor, may include word or number puzzles. These can be either written crosswords or number puzzles with clues given in words. Crosswords and similar games help to improve memory skills among seniors. In addition, they give individuals a way to keep their minds active without using a computer or other electronic device. When seniors find crosswords and similar puzzles difficult, it may be a sign of early to moderate cognitive impairment.

How to Play:

Crossword puzzles are written on a grid, which is divided into squares. Each square contains one or more letters or numbers. The object of the game is to fill in these squares with letters so that words are formed horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. The words formed need to contribute to an overall, predetermined theme.

# Darts Playing

One of the most popular games in pubs and bars is darts. It is a simple concept that can be played with just about anyone, young or old, tall or short. Darts are great because it works your eyesight as well as hand-eye coordination.

How to Play:

Darts is a great game to play with friends. It is easy enough for anyone to participate, and the rules are simple. The goal of darts is to get as close as possible from a set distance by throwing three darts at a time.  You score points based on how many spaces your dart landed from the bullseye, which is in the center of the board.

Darts is a great game for seniors because it requires hand-eye coordination, which can help prevent falls and fractures that come with aging.  It also helps your focus and concentration to improve cognitive function for mental acuity, as you get older. 

# Scrabble

Scrabble is a word game that builds vocabulary and helps you learn new words. Alfred Mosher Butts invented Scrabble.

How to Play:

Scrabble is a game that can be played by two to four players.  Each player has seven tiles with which they try to create words on the board. You get points based on how many letters are in your word and where it is placed on the board. The goal of Scrabble is to earn the most points, so knowing many words is an advantage.

Scrabble requires a lot of concentration and focus, which is great for your brain health. It also forces you to think strategically about which letters will create the highest scoring word possible within the allotted time period.

It is important to talk with other players while playing Scrabble so that it doesn’t become too stressful.

# Bingo

Bingo and similar games require players to match numbers or symbols on a card to those that are drawn on a grid. Generally, there are certain patterns required for each game which may include having five numbers in a row or four numbers that are shared between at least two cards. Bingo is most typically played by groups of people who take turns drawing the required number of balls from a container.

As it requires little equipment, bingo can be played almost anywhere with the only additional requirement being a felt board or paper grid with the required numbers printed on it.

How to Play:

Bingo cards consist of five columns and five rows, each containing five spaces. The first player is chosen at random, usually by placing all the balls in a bag or container and drawing them out one at a time until there is only one ball left. This player then chooses the first number on their card to be matched with one that is randomly drawn from the grid. The next player to go must match this number, plus any additional numbers or symbols, in order to mark it off.

When a player marks an intersection of four spaces, they are eligible for a “coverall” in which a pattern is completed with a single ball. A common format for bingo games is to require players to complete at least four lines on their card before they can win the game.

# Jenga

Jenga can also be a good sit down games for senior citizens. You need to build blocks in a stable way. It requires some thinking but it`s not very difficult. The fun part of this game is that you may remove building floors one by one or even half of them if needed and then put them back again. The winner is the one who removes last block and puts building back to original state.

How to play:

Each player chooses one color of blocks and builds a tower accordingly to certain rules. One person removes the block at the top, then stacks it on each consecutive players turn (who is not allowed to touch previous floor) until someone makes the tower fall. The last player to stack the blocks without making the tower fall wins.

# Passing the Parcel

Pass the parcel is a game in which players pass around an object. Someone will draw out the “surprise” item, and then they will get that item. This game can be played with any type of object, but it is most common to use wrapped up presents.

How to play:

Each player is given a number of tickets, which are then placed into an empty parcel.  The player with number one is chosen to unwrap the parcel and remove the surprise item. The item is then passed around clockwise, while periodically winding up an alarm on a music box or other device.

When the alarm goes off (generally after about 30 seconds), players may start opening their “presents.” If they open their own present before the alarm goes off, they can either close it again or choose to pass it on. When the alarm does go off, all players will have to open their presents at once.

# Online Games

Games can be played online. They are fun and many games have good benefits for your brain.  They are also a great way to socialize with others.  You can play games free or purchase membership that allows you access to the site’s full library of games.

The AARP website offers many different games to play for the elderly. You can play word games or arcade-style games. Those online games can give you hours of entertainment.

Although many of the activities like solitaire can be exclusively played online, it is important to take a break from the screen and play some games outside of the digital world to help prevent eyestrain and improve dexterity.

Sit down games for senior citizens are some of the great choices, because these are easy to start, increases socialization skills and can be played in just about any location. If you’re looking for something simple yet interesting & challenging, the above game options may be exactly what you need!

However, don’t forget to comment below what can be the better ways (if any) to spend your golden years than playing games with family and friends.

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