Some Fun and Stimulating Men's Activities
Men's activities can seem difficult to come up with to keep them occupied, stimulated and interested. Men don’t usually care to do some activities that women love to do, or not for that long. Tea parties, cooking and baking, even bingo and crafts can begin to bore some of the men that would like more masculine things to do and talk about.
But just as women love to talk about the ingredients in a fruit cake, men still love to talk about whatever has interested them. Usually politics, sports and various hobbies they may have had from years ago such as hunting or fishing.
An honourable quality built into most people is the desire to share knowledge and experience. Although the seniors may have less memory recall and less agility they have had many life experiences and knowledge that they would like to share. Sharing with younger people can be very stimulating to the elderly, particularly if the youth are responsive and respectful.
Just having an opinion heard can make a man feel fully accepted and like he is participating in a valuable activity. Men may enjoy sitting with newspapers and discussing current events. One man may be able to read articles to the others or a male activity coordinator or volunteer could help to get a discussion going. This could also be around sports or any other topic of interest as well.
Here is a list of some activities you might try. Not all of these will be appropriate for men with physical difficulties or limitations, but may help in inspiring you to some adaptations to make them work.
Entertainment
Train sets
Boxing videos
Magic tricks
Whistling contests
Old western movies (John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, etc)
Old time radio (Bob Hope, Gunsmoke, etc)
Old TV shows on video (Hee Haw, Bonanza, Andy Griffith, etc)
Karaoke (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc)
Competitions involving who can do “_____” the longest, or furthest, etc
Games
Crib
Gin rummy
Canasta
Any card games of interest
Checkers
Chess
Dominoes
Horseshoes
Bocce ball
Toolbox trivia
Trivia
Wii games
Darts (rubber tipped)
Video games
Magnetic fish in a pool and a short rod and reel rigged to ‘catch’ them
Outdoor
Fishing
Hiking
Fly fishing
Canoeing/boating
Campfire/camping
Outings with boy scouts
Gardening
Bird watching
Washing cars
Kite flying
Hotdog roast
BBQ (let the men that are able, BBQ their own meat)
Clubs
Beer (Apple cider/non-alcoholic beer/root beer) club
Newspaper club
Event
Jazz night
Jam session
Casino night
Poker night
Men’s breakfasts
Bible study
Movie night
Pizza night
Comedy night
Vaudeville night
Stand up comedy
Happy hour
Men’s fashion show (have one)
Men’s spa day
Painting projects (a community fence or park picnic tables)
Computer class
Martial arts instruction (low intensity like Tai Chi)
Survival course (ie: how to start a fire; or class or just have a guest speaker)
Safety or first aid training
The men could be guest speakers to a school class about something they know well
Shadow a tradesman (be a helper for a day or few hours to a plumber, carpenter, mechanic, etc)
Guests like sports figures, carpenters, or others that can demonstrate anything of interest
Outings
Visit a jazz club
Coffee at the mall
Outings with boy scouts
Visit a garden center
Car shows
Horse races
Hooters restaurant
Farmer’s markets
Visit parks
Outdoor shows
Visit a military base
Visit a police department
Visit a fire hall
Visit a local library
Garage sales
Flea markets
Visit a barbershop
Volunteering
Visit a planetarium
Go swimming
Animals; visit zoos, shelters, farms
Parades (be in them or watch them)
Visit a local coffee shop or ice cream shop
Visit a museum (Cars, airplanes, dinosaurs)
Visit a home store like Lowe’s or Home Depot
Party Themes
Gangster party
Football party
Sports
(as player, spectator or Umpire; adapt for indoor versions too)
Baseball games
Soccer games
Football games
Basketball
Car races
Rodeos
‘Body building’ workout
Bowling
Golf /putting (mini and regular)
Stationary bike races (who can go the farthest)
Discussions
Car talk
War
The depression
The past
Generations
Other history
Countries they come from
Geography
Natural disasters
World trivia
Sports magazines
Newspaper stories
Current events
Activity/Crafts
Woodcrafts/woodworking
Build model airplanes
Remote control cars
Build birdhouses
Build bird feeders
Knot tying
Kite building
Build wind chimes
Wood sanding
Treasure hunt
Using a compass
Handymen tasks
Magnetic poetry
Pumpkin carving/painting
Whittling/carving
Fix and polish bikes for kids for Christmas
Paper airplanes (making and throwing contest)
Photography (inexpensive with a digital camera)
Organize a toolbox (ie: sorting screws, nuts and bolts)
Organize a fishing tackle box (ie: sorting bobbers and weights)
Polish antiques found at garage sales or second hand stores (sell or use)
Mechanics (taking apart small appliances or items they can put back together again)
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