[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!
- [Recreation] Summary of Recommended Origami Ideas for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Something New Every Day! Today’s Origami
- [For Seniors] Perfect Finger Exercises! Seasonal Flower Origami
- Easy origami that delights the elderly. Enjoy a heart-lifting time with seasonal origami.
- Enjoyable for seniors! Easy heart origami
- [For Seniors] Simple Handicrafts Recommended for Finger Exercise
- [For Seniors] Fun Origami That Also Works as Rehabilitation
- For Seniors: Effective Recreation for Preventing Care Needs—Have Fun While Staying Healthy
- [For Seniors] Simple and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items
- Recommended for seniors! Origami gifts
- [For Seniors] A Collection of Fun Classic Caregiving Activities
- [For Seniors] Fun to Make! Paper Quilling Ideas
- [For Seniors] March Origami: Ideas to Brighten Your Room with Seasonal Flowers and Events
[For Seniors] Have Fun with Recreation! Origami Ideas (41–50)
Japanese bush warbler
The Japanese bush warbler, known for its “ho-hokekyo” song, is perfect for a spring origami activity.
You can make it with a single sheet of origami paper, so it seems easy for seniors to join in.
Prepare light yellow-green origami paper, round stickers, and a white pen.
Fold the paper in half into a triangle, then continue folding along the creases.
Once the warbler’s body is made, use the round sticker and white pen to create the eye.
If you don’t have a round sticker, draw it with a black pen instead.
This cute bush warbler origami is likely to spark seniors’ creativity.
Try making plum blossoms as well and display them together.
They’ll instantly brighten up the room.
Swaying origami bookmark
Let’s try making a gently swaying bookmark.
It’s easy to make with origami, so it’s also recommended as a craft activity in senior care facilities.
Fold both ends of a long, narrow strip of origami paper toward the center to make it one quarter of its original length.
Place a string in between and glue it in place, then attach the swaying parts.
It’s a good idea to make the parts using the leftover origami from cutting the strip.
Add small slits to the main body of the bookmark to make it easier to clip onto pages.
Please enjoy using this for a fun crafting time!
origami bookmark
Let me introduce a simple, easy bookmark that makes a great gift for someone who loves reading.
Fold a sheet of origami paper in half and open it, then fold the right side along the crease.
Fold the top and bottom edges, and after folding twice along the previous crease, you’ll have a neat rectangle.
Place a string in between and secure it with double-sided tape, and your origami bookmark is complete.
The folding method is very simple, so it’s easy for seniors to try as well.
Why not use your favorite pattern to create a one-of-a-kind bookmark?
Matsutake mushroom origami
Speaking of November, it’s the season when matsutake mushrooms are especially delicious.
Matsutake are said to be in season from September to November.
This time, I’ll introduce how to make a matsutake out of origami.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper, fold it into a triangle twice, and make diagonal creases as you go.
Finally, shape the cap of the matsutake, and you’re done.
The key is to make firm creases and fold so the shape stays even.
It would also be lovely to draw mountains and autumn delicacies on a calendar and paste on your origami matsutake.
You might enjoy changing the color of the origami to create your own original matsutake for a November calendar.
How to fold an origami morning glory
Morning glories made by folding origami are a classic, senior-friendly craft that engages the hands while letting you enjoy colors and shapes.
Using purple or blue origami paper, you simply fold and open to create a softly rounded, spring-like form.
For the finishing touch, cut white origami paper into a star shape and paste it in the center to highlight the morning glory look.
The completed flowers can be displayed in a row on the wall or used as hanging decorations, offering plenty of ways to enjoy them.
This seasonal recreation lets you fold, look at, and decorate with a nostalgic summer flower.
Goldfish made with origami
Here’s an idea for making a goldfish using two sheets of origami paper.
If you use 15 cm paper, the goldfish will turn out quite large, so if you want to make a smaller one, cut the paper into quarters and use that.
With the first sheet, make the goldfish’s head and body, as well as the dorsal and pectoral fins.
With the second sheet, make the decorative tail fin.
Basically, you’ll create creases and fold along them, but for the tail fin you’ll need to open up the pockets to squash them and fold the edges narrowly, so proceed carefully.
Once both parts are finished, attach them together, add the eyes, and you’re done.
goldfish wind chime
On hot summer days, hearing the tinkling sound of wind chimes—“chirin, chirin”—can make the heat feel more bearable.
Many older adults may also associate wind chimes with the image of summer.
With that in mind, here’s a perfect summer craft: a goldfish wind chime.
The goldfish will be made with origami.
Because the goldfish has a three-dimensional finish, attach it to the bell portion of the wind chime and add a tanzaku (paper strip).
If you also attach a small bell, you’ll hear a gentle sound every time the wind blows.
Older adults may find it novel that you can make a wind chime out of origami.
