Lovely senior life

For seniors: Heartwarming and cozy. Recommended handmade Hina dolls

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.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

Hinamatsuri is an event filled with the wish for girls to grow up healthy and happy.

On March 3rd, many families traditionally display Hina dolls and celebrate.

In this article, we introduce handmade Hina doll ideas especially for seniors.

One-of-a-kind handmade Hina dolls have a warm, charming feel, don’t they?

The Hina dolls featured here are all easy to make using familiar, readily available materials, so please feel free to use them as inspiration.

[For Seniors] Cozy and Warming: Recommended Handmade Hina Dolls (71–80)

Paku-paku puppet Hina dolls

[Craft] It opens and closes its mouth!? How to make a paper cup doll!

Paku-paku puppet Hina dolls

How about making an item that lets you enjoy the sight of a Hina doll’s mouth opening and closing? Using paper cups also makes it a good fine-motor exercise, so it’s perfect for crafts or recreation time at care facilities.

Cut slits down to the bottom of the prepared paper cup to create the silhouette of a mouth.

Draw the doll’s face on the upper part, and have it hold a fan or other item on the lower part to finish.

You can keep the illustration simple, or try drawing a more authentic Hina doll.

Create an item that makes the most of seniors’ ideas.

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A roly-poly-style Hina doll

[Science Play Squad] Weeble-style Dinosaur Egg

A roly-poly-style Hina doll

Many places include craft activities for making Hina dolls in preparation for the Doll’s Festival, don’t they? Since they’re Hina dolls, of course you’ll display them, but how about making dolls with a bit of movement like these? They’re Hina dolls made from paper cups, and there’s a gashapon capsule hidden under the paper cup.

When you poke it, it wobbles like a roly-poly toy.

Inside the capsule, clay is attached; you just put the lid on and combine it with the doll made from the paper cup on top to complete it.

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Hanging hina doll decorations

Tsurushi-bina, or hanging ornaments, are small dolls hung as decorations that originated in the Edo period.

This idea is to make those hanging ornaments using origami or chiyogami paper.

Fold kimonos from chiyogami, then attach faces, fans, and other parts for the Empress (Ohinasama) and the Emperor (Odairisama).

It’s also nice and easy to simply print the faces and paste them on.

Beneath the dolls, try hanging peach blossoms, hishi-mochi, and other Hinamatsuri-themed items.

The way they sway in the breeze makes for an adorable Hinamatsuri display.

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[For Seniors] Heartwarming and Cozy. Recommended Handmade Hina Dolls (81–90)

Five Musicians

[Hinamatsuri Origami] How to Fold the Second Set of Five Court Musicians (Origami no Jikan)

Five Musicians

This is an origami set of the Five Musicians that accompany the Emperor and Empress dolls.

The Five Musicians are performers of Noh music, and each of the five holds a different instrument—that’s their defining feature! This origami is also great for group projects, making it a recommended activity for day-service craft sessions.

Older adults can enjoy making it together while chatting.

Create the faces, kimonos, and instruments of the Five Musicians separately, then glue them together at the end.

You can also have fun customizing the kimonos with colors and patterns of your choice.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced various handmade Hina doll ideas for seniors—what did you think? When you make them yourself, the dolls’ expressions change depending on the creator, which gives them a warm, heartwarming feel, doesn’t it? Try displaying the dolls you made at home or giving them as gifts to your grandchildren and others.