[For Seniors] Great for Brain Training! Enjoy Handmade Puzzles
Puzzles used in recreational activities at senior care facilities.
Thinking about where pieces fit based on their shapes and colors, and using your fingertips to place the pieces, helps stimulate the brain.
Puzzles that can be done while sitting and concentrating alone are an easy type of recreation for older adults.
Here are some handmade puzzle ideas recommended for brain training.
Because they’re handmade, you can also enjoy making them together with seniors as a craft activity.
We’ve gathered uniquely creative ideas that only handmade projects can offer, such as using plastic bottle caps and milk cartons! With a bit of ingenuity, you can create a wide variety of puzzles.
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[For Seniors] Recommended Brain Training! Enjoy with Handmade Puzzles (1–10)
Handmade puzzle made of cardboard

Turn your own drawing into a puzzle! Here are some ideas for making a handmade puzzle out of cardboard.
It sounds fun to create a puzzle that’s uniquely yours, doesn’t it? This is a great, enjoyable idea for people who are good at drawing or simply love to draw! What you’ll need: cardboard, drawing paper, glue, paste, a ruler, a pen, a craft knife, clothespins, and more.
Cut up your drawing and it transforms into a puzzle! Adding a frame can also serve as a hint when fitting the pieces together.
Give it a try!
Hexagonal Seven-Piece Origami Puzzle

It’s a puzzle game where hexagons are decorated with six colored triangles and arranged so that adjacent sides end up being the same color.
First, prepare seven hexagons folded from black origami and seven sets of triangles in six colors.
Then, carefully attach the triangles to the hexagons without repeating a color on the same hexagon, and the puzzle pieces are ready.
By figuring out how to arrange them so neighboring sides match in color and moving the pieces accordingly, it offers a solid brain workout.
Kanji Combination Puzzle

Let’s make it with origami! Here’s an idea for a kanji combination puzzle.
Cut origami paper into long, thin strips to create kanji—a unique and fun approach.
All you need are origami paper, scissors, and kanji cards.
Try forming the specified kanji using only the origami parts! It’s best to start with characters that have fewer strokes.
Once you get used to it, you can increase the stroke count or set a time limit to make it even more exciting! The key is to prepare origami parts in different sizes.
[For Seniors] Recommended for Brain Training! Enjoy with Handmade Puzzles (11–20)
Cardboard Tetris
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Guaranteed to get your heart racing with excitement! Here’s an idea for cardboard Tetris.
Many of you have probably played Tetris in a video game, right? This time, let’s try making a Tetris set out of cardboard.
You’ll need cardboard, colored paper, a permanent marker, double-sided tape or glue, and scissors or a utility knife.
Once you’ve finished making the Tetris minos, hosting a Tetris showdown is sure to be a hit.
Give it a try!
A jigsaw puzzle on a cup noodle lid

Exciting! Here’s an idea for a jigsaw puzzle using instant cup noodle lids.
The designs on cup noodles vary a lot from product to product, right? This is a DIY puzzle that lets you enjoy those differences.
You’ll need seven cup noodle lids, scissors, a ruler, a pen, and so on.
To make it, simply divide each lid into four pieces.
It’s simple, but when you try playing, it’s surprisingly challenging and can take time to complete.
Laminating the pieces is also a nice touch.
A puzzle made of cardboard with 3 to 4 layers

Let’s make a bento box! Here’s an idea for a 3–4 layer puzzle made from cardboard.
Most puzzles usually end up being just 1 or 2 layers, right? This time, let’s stack cardboard to create a 3–4 layer puzzle.
You’ll need materials like cardboard, construction paper, glue, a utility knife, and a permanent marker.
It sounds fun to think about what side dishes to put in the bento as you make it.
Try incorporating cute ideas with a touch of humor!
Kanji Puzzle

Here’s a kanji puzzle to boost creativity.
Print out kanji characters and cut them in half.
Try combining the pieces to form the correct characters.
Once you get the hang of it, you can raise the difficulty by cutting the kanji into quarters.
If you laminate the printed and cut pieces, you can use them over and over.
It’s a fun brain workout that builds your ability to visualize kanji shapes and identify where each component belongs.
You can make it even more exciting by setting a time limit or forming teams.



