[Christmas & New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Services in December
December is a month when you can feel the Christmas atmosphere, including through decorations at day-service centers.
Christmas, New Year’s, and other major events come one after another.
In Japan, December is written as “Shiwasu,” reflecting how bustling this time of year can be.
Older adults may also be sensing the arrival of December.
So this time, we’re introducing craft ideas for day-service centers that are perfect for December.
We’ve assembled a wide variety of projects—decorations to brighten up Christmas, pieces that boost the festive mood, and New Year’s items, too!
They’re great to make and display in your own room, and would surely delight family members as gifts.
Enjoy a wonderful December with heartfelt, handmade items!
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- [For Seniors] Try Making a Handmade Christmas Wreath! A Collection of Ideas Using Everyday Materials
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- For seniors: Decorate the December wall with a tree. Easy ideas using origami and yarn.
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- [For Seniors] Introducing Fun Crafts Made with Plastic Bottle Caps
- Easy way to make Christmas stockings
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
- Take-Home Craft Ideas for Winter: Perfect for Day Services for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Recommended for Christmas Crafts! Simple Handmade Project Ideas
[Christmas and New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Services in December (71–80)
Plastic bottle snow globe
A snow globe lets you easily enjoy a magical scene like dancing snow.
Let’s make a simple snow globe using a plastic bottle! Prepare a paper cup and decorate it however you like—draw pictures, add stickers, or glue on paper cut into your favorite shapes.
Next, put small colorful felt balls and glittery sparkles into an empty plastic bottle, then fill it to the top with water.
Once both the paper cup and the bottle are ready, insert the bottle’s mouth into the paper cup, and you’re done! When you turn it upside down, the decorations inside swirl around, creating a beautiful display.
For a more floating, drifting effect, try mixing in liquid laundry starch or school glue along with the water.
poinsettia
Let’s add a little extra touch to flower petals made with a craft punch and create poinsettias, a must-have plant for Christmas.
We’ll fold the red and green petal pieces, make cuts with scissors to form sharp, leaf-like shapes, and layer them to finish the poinsettia.
The process involves fine motor actions like folding and cutting, which helps strengthen focus in the fingertips.
After that, simply glue the parts together and attach beads in the center to complete it.
Because the finished piece is small, it’s an easy craft to incorporate into various decorations.
Pom-pom tree
This warm and cozy craft features pom-poms stacked in the shape of a Christmas tree.
The steps are simple: cut a paper plate, roll it to form the base of the tree, and then attach colorful pom-poms on top.
Next, add beads in the gaps between the pom-poms and finish with decorations like ribbons.
The action of pinching and sticking the pom-poms also helps with finger dexterity.
The color of the pom-poms is key—choosing mainly red, green, and white will effectively convey the Christmas atmosphere.
[Christmas & New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Service in December (81–90)
Christmas wreath at the mall
Introducing an easy-to-make Christmas wreath that only requires twisting pipe cleaners from a 100-yen shop.
This craft uses your fingertips extensively, making it effective for fine-motor rehab for seniors! Why not include it in your preparations for Christmas events? To make it, overlap the ends of two pipe cleaners and twist them together, then clamp a pen, straw, or battery between the pipe cleaners and twist two or three times.
Repeat this process, and once you’ve wrapped to the end, form a circle and twist the two ends together to connect—done! Adding ribbon-shaped pipe cleaners or decorative stickers will make it even more festive.
Try making it with your favorite colors and get into the Christmas spirit.
Snowman made from a Yakult container
How about making a cute snowman doll using a lactic acid bacteria drink container? First, remove the lid and the plastic wrapper from the container.
Next, cover it with white fabric; if you want to give the snowman a soft, fluffy feel, using quilt batting is recommended.
Once the whole container is covered, make a hat for the snowman with yarn.
Finally, use beads and other materials to add the snowman’s facial features—eyes and nose—and decorate the body.
You’re done! Make several and display them together to create a lively, gentle atmosphere.
Scandinavian-style Christmas decorations
Here’s an idea for a Scandinavian-style Christmas decoration using construction paper you can even find at 100-yen shops.
It’s simple yet has a strong presence—perfect if you’re looking for a minimalist accent.
First, prepare two sheets of construction paper and paint one with gold and the other with silver.
Once dry, cut them into long, thin strips.
Start by weaving three silver and three gold strips into a grid to form a 3×3 checker pattern.
Then, keeping the central cross intact, overlap neighboring sections of the paper and attach them at the edges.
You should get four petal-like shapes.
Make two of these, stack them, and attach the remaining strips.
It’s easier than it looks, so give it a try!
Cute Christmas wreath
A pop and cute Christmas wreath made with origami.
Origami uses your fingertips extensively, so it’s a great recreational activity for seniors to try! Plus, making this Christmas wreath will help you enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
The base of the wreath is made by folding several parts and assembling them together.
Adding origami Santa Clauses and reindeer will boost the Christmas mood even more! You can also create a unique finish by arranging different color combinations for the wreath base parts.