Lovely senior life

[Christmas & New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Services in December

Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

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!

[Christmas, New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Service in December (101–110)

Stand it up and display it! Santa Claus

[Craft Idea] Standing Santa Claus (December) (Christmas Decorations) (Senior Recreation) (Arts & Crafts) (Early Childhood Education) (Wall Decorations)

Stand it up and display it! Santa Claus

Christmas decorations look lovely as wallpaper, but standing them up makes them a joy to look at.

This time, we’ll show you how to make a stand-up Santa Claus decoration! The key point is using straws for the legs.

Wrap copy paper around them to add weight and make it more stable.

The triangle hat with cotton is adorable, too.

The decorative parts involve fine work, so if it’s difficult, provide assistance as you complete it.

The angle at which you attach the head and arms brings out each piece’s personality, making for delightful creations.

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Snowman memo stand

Easy Winter Craft Kit for Seniors: Clay Snowman Memo Stand Making [Fun Craft Time]

Snowman memo stand

Try making a snowman memo stand by stacking rolled clay! It’s a cute, winter-perfect idea that’s also practical.

Just place two balls of white clay on top of each other in a cup as the base.

Then make a bucket hat, add eyes with beads, and your snowman is complete.

Attach a clip to hold notes, and you’ve got an adorable memo stand! You can use it yourself, or it might make a lovely gift for your grandchild.

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shimenawa (sacred Shinto rope)

[Craft Idea] Shimenawa paper craft (New Year in January) (senior activities) (early childhood education) (wall decorations) (creative) (easy) (seasonal) (ema plaques)

shimenawa (sacred Shinto rope)

A traditional New Year’s decoration that instantly brings in the New Year spirit: the shimenawa.

The real ones are made of straw, but here we’re introducing a shimenawa made from paper! Crumple up some brown paper, twist it to make a single rod, tie the ends to form a loop, and snip the excess—before you know it, it looks just like a proper shimenawa! Then simply glue on an origami flower and an accordion-folded fan, and you’re done! Even a small shimenawa adds a lovely New Year’s atmosphere.

Give it a try!

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Angels and wreaths made of paper

[Craft Idea] Angels and Wreaths ~Craft~ (November/December) (Christmas Wreath) (Wall Decoration) (Childcare/Educational) (Senior Recreation) (Easy Craft) (Doily) (Creative)

Angels and wreaths made of paper

Paper angels and wreaths—what a lovely craft! Using white paper doilies, you can create delicate angels.

The step of cutting the hair with scissors looks like a fun way to add unique personality to each piece.

Attach the angel to an origami holly wreath, and you’ll have an adorable finished wreath.

Older adults can also enjoy working on it while feeling the Christmas spirit.

It’s an easy activity, perfect for chatting together as everyone creates.

Once finished, you can display your piece in your room or give it as a gift to family—there are lots of ways to enjoy it.

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paper basket

Paper Basket Craft ~ Recycled Crafts of Baskets ~ (Basket made of paper) (Recycled craft) (Paper craft) (Senior recreation / day program) (Easy) (Newspaper) (Psychiatric OT creation)

paper basket

For those who want to make something practical, a paper basket craft is recommended.

In this method, you create a frame from thick paper and reinforce it with newspaper and paper napkins.

This gives it strength, so it can hold slightly heavier items.

You could even fill the basket with mandarins and leave it on the kotatsu.

Also, by changing the pattern of the paper napkins, you can match the design to your room’s atmosphere.

A tip for making is to choose patterns where the cuts won’t look out of place.

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[Christmas and New Year] Craft Ideas for Day Service in December (111–120)

snow globe

[Make it in 5 Minutes!] Super Easy! A Snow Globe Made with Daiso Materials ♡

snow globe

Glittering snow gently falls… Why not try making a classic winter decoration—a handmade snow globe! Secure a little Santa or Christmas tree figurine inside an empty container, then pour in liquid laundry starch and water at a 1:1 ratio, sprinkle in some glitter, and that’s it—you’re done! You’ll see when you try it: it’s super easy and turns out absolutely adorable! As long as you have the materials, you can finish one in a little spare time.

Go ahead and make a one-of-a-kind snow globe of your very own!

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In conclusion

In December, we introduced craft ideas to enjoy at day service centers.

The crafts focus on Christmas and New Year’s items—make them to liven up your winter events! We’ve also included many practical projects, so we’re sure you’ll have fun displaying and using them at home, sparking lots of conversation!