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[For Seniors] Have Fun with Recreation! Origami Ideas
Origami, which is incorporated into recreational activities at care facilities.
Origami seems familiar to many older adults, as they often folded paper when they were young and it was a common pastime.
Because you can fold while chatting with other seniors, it also helps promote communication!
So this time, we’ll introduce origami that’s perfect for recreation activities for older adults.
Using your fingertips and thinking about what shape it will become when finished also serves as brain training.
Please make good use of these origami ideas in your recreational programs!
[For Seniors] Have Fun with Recreational Activities! Origami Ideas (1–10)
Easy Origami Koinobori (Carp Streamer)NEW!
Just layer and glue origami paper—so simple, yet the brilliance will catch your eye! This carp streamer craft is made using eight 7.5 cm origami sheets and googly-eye stickers.
First, carefully pick eight sheets of your favorite origami paper and fold each one into a triangle twice.
Pair the triangular pieces in twos, then insert and overlap the corners where two layers meet.
Next, take the four completed parts and, in order, insert and stack them in the same direction to form the shape of a carp streamer.
Add the eye sticker and you’re done! The colors and patterns you choose will bring out your individuality, so make it uniquely yours.
Hanami dangoNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@sachimama_asobi/video/7345872880980299009Let’s make the essential three-color dango for Hinamatsuri out of origami.
Prepare three sheets of origami paper in green, white, and pink, plus a pair of chopsticks.
Fold the origami paper in half into a square twice, then puff it up as you fold it into a triangle.
Next, fold the left and right pointed tips up toward the center to form a balloon shape.
Blow into the small hole to inflate and complete the balloon.
After making three balloons from the three sheets of origami, gently skewer all three onto the chopsticks so they don’t tear, and you’re done.
Place them beside the Empress and Emperor dolls to make a lovely decoration.
Accordion-fold Hina doll displayNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@mii_no_seisak/video/7602914620805745941Here’s an idea for representing the bodies of Hina dolls using accordion-folded origami.
Use two sheets of origami paper per doll.
First, accordion-fold a plain sheet, overlap the sides, and fold it in half.
Fold the second sheet the same way, then insert it into the first sheet and glue them together.
It’s recommended to use patterned paper for the second sheet.
Once the body is complete, attach a face and decorations made from construction paper, and hang it from a display stand made with a thick straw and kite string to finish.
For an even more festive look, you can also make and hang bonbori lanterns and hishi-mochi rice cakes.
Hinamatsuri wreath decorationNEW!
Introducing an idea for a Hina Matsuri wreath made entirely from origami parts! The parts you’ll make are the Emperor doll and Empress doll, lanterns, hishi-mochi rice cakes, cherry blossoms, a folding screen, a fan, a ritual baton (shaku), a stand, and a circular base to which all these parts are attached.
The base is made by combining 12 identical pieces.
Each individual part is created through simple steps, so although there are many pieces, it’s a project you can likely finish in a day.
For the Emperor and Empress kimonos, use washi-patterned origami paper—choose your favorite designs while imagining the final look.
Hina dolls made with round origamiNEW!
Let’s make Hinamatsuri dolls out of chiyogami with a cute, gently rounded shape.
Fold a circular sheet of origami in half twice, then cut a slit at the center to form the neck.
Fold the left and right edges inward to align with the collar area, shaping the kimono.
Fold the Odairi-sama in the same way, then attach the fan, ladle, and crown, draw the faces, and you’re done.
Using round origami enhances the warm feel of the Ohina-sama and Odairi-sama.
Prepare patterned origami and try making your own original Hinamatsuri dolls.
Hina dolls with distinctive kimonosNEW!
Let’s make a perfect set of the imperial couple (the emperor and empress) for Hinamatsuri.
First, mark the origami by folding it in half, then into quarters, in order.
Create creases at the corners and around the edges to form the shape of the kimono.
For the hair, take a small square of black origami paper, fold it into a triangle, then fold both sides toward the center to shape the hairstyle.
Attach the empress’s body and hair, then add the fan to finish.
For the emperor, the key is to make a crisp fold at the collar and fold the sleeves of the kimono upward to create the right angle.
Fold a crown from black origami paper to complete the emperor.
Feel free to draw the facial expressions in your own original style.
Self-standing Hina Dolls you can make even if you’re super clumsyNEW!
Let’s make some cute hina dolls that will look adorable even displayed at the entrance.
Cut a sheet of origami paper in half, fold it in half, then overlap and fold the left and right sides to create the kimonos for the empress (ohinasama) and the emperor (odairisama).
Tuck the triangular flap inside to finish.
For the face parts, prepare one sheet of black origami paper, fold it in thirds, then fold one third in half; as you fold the corners, shape the hair while checking the balance.
Finally, fold up from the bottom to complete the face parts.
For the odairisama, make the crown by shaping the tip to a point, then fold the corners to give it a rounded form.
Once you make the fan, ladle, and crown, it’s complete.
Tulip wreath
This wreath, which arranges tulips into a circle while highlighting their shape, is an origami piece whose impression changes depending on how the flowers are placed.
Whether you align the direction of the flowers and stems or vary their angles slightly will affect how cohesive the design feels.
By considering color combinations, you can tighten the overall look or steer it toward a softer mood.
Introducing variations in the flowers’ heights helps prevent a flat appearance.
Finally, surveying the whole and adjusting the placement stabilizes the shape and improves how it looks when displayed.
The bright colors of the finished wreath gently stand out in a space and evoke the arrival of spring.
3D Origami Flower Bouquet
We’ll use origami and colored paper to make three-dimensional flowers and turn them into a bouquet.
Make the flower parts with origami, and use colored paper for the stems and leaves.
Folding the flower parts takes many steps, so it’s a bit challenging, but it’s great for stimulating your brain since it uses fine motor skills.
Let’s make lots of flowers in various colors and create a gorgeous bouquet!
Origami: Butterfly
Even among people who like origami, the way to fold a butterfly is surprisingly little known.
The folding method is a bit complex, but it results in a very charming look.
If you have some craft wire (pipe cleaners) ready, adding antennae is lovely, and drawing patterns on the wings with a pen is also nice.
Feel free to customize it to your liking.
By the way, this butterfly pairs well with artificial flowers and floral decorations.
When you make one, I hope you’ll try displaying it together with them.
