Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Get Hooked! Enjoy Crafting with Chopstick Art Projects

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Physical Therapist / WriterKawamura Mina
From a physical therapist to a writer, driven by the desire to travel the world with just a laptop. I’ve traveled to over 20 countries. I hope to deliver writing that many people are glad to have discovered. Thank you in advance.

We’d like to introduce nostalgic toys and lovely interior pieces made from disposable chopsticks.

Boats, musical instruments, lampshades, and other creations that make you excited just by looking at them can be transformed into original works with a bit of ingenuity and ideas.

The hands-on process of assembling them feels like returning to childhood—a truly enjoyable time.

It’s also effective for finger rehabilitation and dementia prevention.

As you gaze at the finished pieces, you might find yourself reminiscing and sharing fond memories.

How about enjoying craft-making at a relaxed pace tailored to each older adult?

[For Seniors] Get Hooked! Enjoy Crafting with Chopstick Art (21–30)

skeleton model

I tried making a skeletal model out of disposable chopsticks.

skeleton model

You might be wondering, “Can you really make a skeleton model by hand?” The answer is yes—you can make one using wooden chopsticks! By finely cutting and joining the chopsticks, threading them onto wire, or soaking them in water and bending them into curves, you can recreate bone parts.

It’s a perfect idea for those who enjoy detailed handiwork, but because it involves precision work with cutters and wire, it’s important to prioritize safety.

Be very careful to avoid injury and proceed in a way that’s comfortable and manageable for you.

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jabara watermelon

August (summer) craft for seniors: A 'folded (accordion) watermelon' made with chopsticks and paper

jabara watermelon

Seasonal crafts help older adults feel the changes of the seasons.

This time, we’re introducing a project where you attach chopsticks to the ends of an accordion-folded sheet of paper; when you open it, a watermelon appears.

Create the watermelon’s cross-section by making patterns with construction paper or origami.

Since you’ll accordion-fold it and open it into a circle, the key is to start with a rectangular piece if you’re using construction paper.

If you use origami, prepare several accordion-folded pieces, glue them together to form a rectangle, and proceed.

Because it opens into a circular shape, it can double as a fan—perfect for hot days.

You could also use fireworks or sunflower patterns, or choose traditional Japanese designs to display as a New Year’s craft.

Besides watermelon, why not enjoy experimenting with various ideas?

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In conclusion

Crafts using disposable chopsticks are a form of recreation that can be expected to stimulate the brain by moving the fingertips.

The conversations that arise during the process of creating, and the sense of accomplishment when a piece is completed, also enrich the heart.

Let’s enjoy making works at a pace suited to older adults.

Carefully crafted pieces will surely be imbued with wonderful memories.