[For Seniors] Practical Crafts to Make in Day-Service Recreation: Idea Roundup
At day service craft activities, there are times when participants make items to take home.
I imagine many people display them at home, too.
This time, we’re sharing craft ideas for older adults that you can make and actually use!
We’ve gathered practical crafts you can keep using after you make them, as well as stylish pieces that look great on display.
Simply changing the origami patterns or the types of beads and ribbons can create a completely different feel, so have fun using these ideas as inspiration.
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- For Seniors: Come, Spring! Recommended March Craft Ideas for Daycare Services
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- [For Seniors] Recycle Everyday Materials: A Collection of Flyer Craft Ideas
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[For Seniors] Practical Crafts for Day-Service Activities: Idea Collection (111–120)
Wind chime made with 100-yen shop origami
Doesn’t making a wind chime by hand seem kind of difficult? For seniors who feel that way, we recommend wind chimes you can make with origami.
All you need to do is fold and cut the paper, and it’s done in no time.
There are many patterns of origami paper, so try making one with your favorite design.
From papers that give a refreshing feel to ones that add a touch of brilliance, the options are wide-ranging.
Create a wind chime that suits your taste and enjoy spending time at home in the summer.
Your usual summer days will become even more fun.
Wind chimes made from egg cartons
Eggs are something almost every household uses.
This time, we’re sharing an idea to transform an egg carton into a wind chime.
First, cut out a single-cup section of the carton.
Make a hole in the center, then decorate the rim with bead stickers or similar embellishments.
Prepare a small hanging strip (tanzaku) decorated to your liking, and thread it together with a bell; attach a pipe cleaner at the front end.
Add a bead to secure the carton, twist the pipe cleaner, and your wind chime is ready to hang anywhere.
The steps are simple, and because it uses fine motor skills, it’s perfect as a recreational activity in senior care facilities.
[For Seniors] Practical Crafts for Day-Service Recreational Activities: Idea Roundup (121–130)
clear-file wind chime
Because clear plastic files let light through, decorating them with colored film or pens creates the beauty of a glass-like wind chime.
The gentle, translucent colors are easy on the eyes and relaxing just to look at.
They also stimulate the senses of older adults, which can help with dementia prevention.
Cut the clear file to the desired size and attach the pieces.
Add your favorite decorations with beads or masking tape, and your original wind chime is complete! Let the transparent, beautiful wind chime soothe your body and mind.
Mini wind chime
How about making a cute miniature wind chime using a jelly cup? Wash and dry the jelly container, apply glue, and stick on pieces of cut paper like a collage.
Once the glue dries, make a hole in the center to thread a string through, and trim off any excess parts of the container with scissors.
Thread a strip of paper (tanzaku) and a small bell onto the string, then pass the string through the jelly cup.
Adding a bead or similar item where the string meets the cup helps keep it in place and makes it look nicer as an accent.
You can also draw patterns on the tanzaku or decorate the wind chime with stickers to make your own original design.
Give it a try!
Wind chime decorations made with thread
Wind chimes are a uniquely Japanese symbol of summer, aren’t they? Just gazing at them makes you feel the season’s arrival.
How about making your own wind chime by hand? This time, I’ll introduce a very simple handmade wind chime you can create.
First, inflate a balloon and wrap thread around it.
Then harden it with glue and let it dry.
Add decorations as you like, and in no time it’s finished.
You’ll have a one-of-a-kind wind chime that exists nowhere else in the world! Hang it by the window, and you’ll feel the essence of summer.
Fireworks Milk Carton Fan
On hot summer days, many older adults have probably fanned themselves with a hand fan.
Here’s a perfect summer craft idea: a handmade uchiwa (Japanese fan).
Using an empty milk carton, you can make a sturdy fan.
Cut the milk carton into a circle and tape a chopstick to the outer (printed) side to serve as the handle.
Then cut another circular piece from a milk carton and attach it on top with the white side facing outward.
Draw fireworks on a round piece of construction paper, stick it onto the fan, and you’re done.
The fireworks motif enhances the summery feel and will help older adults enjoy the sense of the season.
Stained-glass-style wind chime made with transparent origami
If you want a wind chime that’s enjoyable even just to look at, a stained-glass-style wind chime is a great choice.
As we age, some people find it harder to hear sounds.
Even for those folks, this stained-glass look lets you fully savor the refined beauty of summer, thanks to its vibrant appearance.
It’s also very easy to make: simply stick transparent origami onto a clear plastic cup! You’ll end up with a wind chime that looks high-end, as if you bought it at a store.
The way it appears changes with the light, gently stimulating the senses and helping you enjoy a calm, soothing moment.