Take-Home Craft Ideas for Winter: Perfect for Day Services for Seniors
Many people enjoy doing crafts at nursing homes and day service centers, don’t they?
This time, we’re introducing craft ideas for seniors to make in winter that they can take home from day service!
We’ve gathered easy-to-prepare projects, including those that use recycled materials and supplies from 100-yen shops.
When it comes to crafts, aside from large decorations to hang on the wall, most items can be taken home.
More intricate projects that require fine motor skills may take several days to complete, but the sense of accomplishment and joy when they’re finished is exceptional.
Of course, there are also cute crafts that can be made in a single day, so please use these ideas as a reference for craft activities at nursing homes and day service centers.
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- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
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- [For Seniors] DIY Strap Craft Ideas. Great as Gifts, Too!
[For Seniors] Take-Home Craft Ideas for Day Service to Make in Winter (151–160)
paper plate spinning top
How about trying a “paper plate spinning top” that’s fun to play with even after you make it? Using a simple, everyday material—a paper plate—you can craft it easily, and after enjoying the making process, older adults are sure to feel like kids again as they get absorbed in spinning it! To make one, fold a paper plate in half and crease it again to form a cross, decorate it freely with markers, then tape a plastic bottle cap to the center.
It’s super easy, so it would be great for a day-service craft activity or to make and play with your grandchildren.
Tatsu Kazari
Let’s make a stylish and cute dragon decoration by simply cutting colored construction paper in a spiral! It’s an easy craft that seniors can enjoy, so feel free to use it for day-service craft activities.
To make it, draw a spiral on a square piece of colored construction paper and cut along the line with scissors—that’s it! You can customize the dragon’s head as you like.
Adding plastic dividers used for lunchboxes (baran) to the dragon’s body will enhance the look.
Attach a string to turn it into a hanging decoration, and display it in your room to enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
Oni and Otafuku
When it comes to events in February, many people probably think of Setsubun.
Here’s a perfect recreation activity for Setsubun: making an oni (demon) and Otafuku.
First, fold origami to create the outlines of the oni and Otafuku, then attach facial parts cut out from paper.
If you put them up on the wall, you can enjoy a festive Setsubun atmosphere.
By the way, in the context of Setsubun, Otafuku represents the “fuku” in the phrase “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (Demons out, good fortune in).
So it’s recommended to display them as a set.
amulet
Why not include amulet-making in your winter crafts activity? We recommend fabric amulets you can make without sewing using materials from the 100-yen shop.
If you use printed fabric tape, it’s easy to make, so anyone can join in.
Enjoy your favorite designs with Japanese patterns or chirimen-style fabric tapes.
You’ll tie a knot in the cord to suit the amulet, but any knot you can make is fine.
The finished amulets can be gifts for family or something you wear yourself.
Since it involves using your fingertips, it can also help stimulate the brain.
It’s a lovely way to create memories while feeling the season.
stained-glass-style ornament
Let’s make a picture that looks like beautiful stained glass! First, draw any design you like on a plastic sheet.
Next, crumple some aluminum foil and attach it to the part where you want to display the picture, such as a photo frame.
Place the plastic sheet with your drawing on top, and you’re done! The aluminum foil will sparkle, making the picture on top look glittery too.
For winter, snowmen or designs inspired by Christmas or Valentine’s Day are recommended! Try displaying it at home as interior decor.
Shishimai made from a tissue box
How about making a square-faced lion using an empty tissue box? With a tissue box, construction paper, and a green plastic bag, you can do it easily.
First, cut the tissue box in half, leaving the bottom part intact.
Prepare another tissue box: cut one piece to 12 cm for the side and 5 cm for the front surface, and cut another piece to 2 cm.
Assemble these pieces and cover the front surface with red construction paper.
Create bold lion face parts from colored paper and stick them on, and you’re done.
The mouth opens and closes, which gives it an exciting, dynamic look and makes it fun to play with.
For Seniors: Take-Home Craft Ideas for Day Services to Make in Winter (161–170)
Paper roll cake
Let’s make a delicious-looking Swiss roll cake out of paper! With just cardboard and origami, you can create an adorable cake.
Attach origami that looks like cream and fruit onto a rolled piece of cardboard.
Together with older adults, you can choose your favorite colors of origami and add Christmas-themed decorations to create a one-of-a-kind cake.
It’s a great way to keep fingers moving while enjoying a nice chat.
The finished cake will look lovely as a room decoration and also makes a perfect gift for someone special.