Recommended Origami for Seniors: Fun December Theme
As December arrives, the wind turns colder and it becomes a season with more indoor recreation.
Let’s try origami, which is great brain training you can enjoy in a warm room.
The process of dexterously using your fingertips to fold paper, and creating while picturing the finished piece, is said to provide beneficial stimulation to the brain.
Origami is also a familiar craft for many older adults, making it easy to get started.
Some may even recall memories of folding paper in childhood or doing origami with their children.
This time, we’re introducing origami with a December theme.
Please use it to help you create wonderful pieces.
- [For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter
- [For Seniors] Recommended for December Wall Decorations! Santa Craft Ideas
- For seniors: Decorate the December wall with a tree. Easy ideas using origami and yarn.
- [For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January
- [For Seniors] Perfect Finger Exercises! Seasonal Flower Origami
- For seniors: Introducing handmade decoration ideas to welcome a wonderful Christmas
- [For Seniors] Brighten Up December Walls! Christmas Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations for December: Ideas Collection
- [For Seniors] Fun Crafts Recommended for December
- [For Seniors] Recommended in December! Safe and Fun Indoor Recreation
- [For Seniors] Recommended September Origami to Feel the Autumn Season
- [For Seniors] Lovely Christmas Crafts: Easy Ideas Using Recycled Materials and 100-Yen Shop Supplies
- [Elderly Care Facility] Fun-filled recreational activities for a Christmas party: crafts, rhythmic exercises, games, and even a snack-time activity
[For Seniors] Recommended December-Themed Fun Origami (21–30)
Simple Christmas decorations
These days, supermarkets and convenience stores start putting up Christmas decorations even before December.
It’s exciting how the year-end mood suddenly ramps up, but there’s also something a bit lonely about the year coming to a close.
How about you all? I think a calendar featuring all the Christmas characters—Santa, reindeer, snowmen—would be a lot of fun.
You can make them all, including the Christmas tree, by arranging triangles.
If there’s a chance to make it together, you could even divide up the tasks—like having Yamada-san make the reindeer.
Snowflake of Flowers
We would like to introduce the idea of “Flower Snow Crystals,” which combine the gentleness of flowers with the beauty of crystals.
This is a three-dimensional craft made with origami.
Layering small parts to complete the piece helps improve concentration, exercises the fingertips, and provides positive stimulation for the brain.
It’s easy for older adults to try, and the sense of achievement and joy upon completion is another appeal.
You can enjoy combining colors, display it as is, or adapt it for wall decorations to brighten up your room’s interior.
It’s a recommended craft you can enjoy making at a calm, leisurely pace.
[For Seniors] Recommended December-Themed Fun Origami (31–40)
poinsettia
Poinsettias, which vividly brighten up the winter season, strongly evoke Christmas with their red and green appearance.
How about recreating a poinsettia with origami to feel a touch of warmth amid the cold? The method involves cutting origami into shapes that look like spread leaves and layering them, but by giving each part crisp creases, you create depth when they’re stacked.
Make sure to press firm creases into each piece, fold and cut, and then layer them while keeping a sense of softness in mind.
Santa Claus
Let’s make Santa Claus, an iconic Christmas motif, using origami.
Draw lines on red origami paper and cut it out, then roll it into a pointed cone to form the base.
Attach parts like the face, beard, and hat trim to it.
Use rhinestones for the facial features, stickers for the buttons on the outfit, and finish by adding a pom-pom to the tip of the triangle.
It’s also recommended to make mascots like a reindeer or snowman using the same base and display them together to enhance the Christmas atmosphere.
bell
Let’s make a lovely bell out of a single sheet of origami! You’ll end up with a cute bell that seems like it might produce a gentle chime.
It’s perfect as a Christmas decoration to brighten up any room.
Origami is said to stimulate and activate the brain by using fine motor skills and thinking ahead to the next steps.
It’s also easy to do while chatting with others, which helps encourage interaction.
You can enjoy customizing the finished bell by adding a ribbon or drawing patterns with a pen.
Please feel free to use this origami bell activity to help create a wonderful time for older adults.
snowman
Let’s try folding a snowman from a single sheet of origami paper! The steps are simple, but you’ll end up with a cute snowman.
Once it’s done, draw the face with a pen or use round stickers—try different expressions and enjoy customizing it! Origami is said to stimulate and activate the brain by engaging the fingertips and thinking ahead to the next steps.
It’s also easy to do while chatting with others, which encourages social interaction.
Please make good use of the origami snowman to help create a wonderful time for older adults.
Christmas hanging ornament
December means Christmas! So let’s make a hanging Christmas decoration.
The parts to make are a star, a Christmas bell, holly berries and leaves, a Santa hat, and a tree.
Once you’ve made each piece, thread them onto a string like a garland and decorate your wall however you like.
There are many parts, but none of them are difficult, and all the pieces are three-dimensional.
The Santa hat is especially cute, complete with a fluffy cotton trim.
Give this craft a try to get your fingers moving on chilly winter days.
