[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!
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[For Seniors] Have Fun with Recreation! Origami Ideas (41–50)
pinwheel
On hot summer days, there are things that make you feel cool, aren’t there? The sound of wind chimes, sprinkling water, and tokoroten jelly are just a few.
A pinwheel might be one of those cool-feeling items too, don’t you think? A pinwheel that spins in a light summer breeze or with a gentle puff of air—watching it whirl around somehow makes you feel cooler and more at ease.
Cut slits in four places on a piece of origami paper and fold the corners toward the center.
The key is to bring the corners to the center without making creases—more like folding them over gently.
Fix the pinwheel with a toothpick and attach it to a straw to finish.
It’s the kind of craft that might even bring back memories for older adults of playing with pinwheels when they were young.
[For Seniors] Have Fun with Recreation! Origami Ideas (51–60)
happi (traditional Japanese festival coat)
In August, many facilities probably hold summer festivals, don’t they? Here’s an origami happi coat that’s perfect for indoor summer festival decorations and August wall displays.
You’ll fold it using a single sheet of origami paper.
Some steps are a bit complex, but the finished result looks just like a real happi.
Please try folding it with support from those around you, tailored to the needs of older adults.
On the back of the finished happi, write the character for “festival” (祭) with a black pen, or write it on white paper and paste it on.
That will make it look even more authentic.
dolphin
We’d like to introduce an origami piece that looks like a dolphin leaping and swimming through the sea.
Start by making crease lines on the paper, then continue folding step by step.
As you go, it gradually takes on the shape of a dolphin, so older adults can enjoy making it as well.
The dolphin’s mouth and tail fin are also made from a single sheet of paper.
Because of that, there are some steps with finer, more detailed folds.
If the older adult is skilled at origami, they’ll likely enjoy the process.
Once finished, you can arrange it in different ways, such as turning it into a wreath or attaching it to a calendar.
crab
Here’s an introduction to crab origami that evokes the feeling of the summer sea.
Many older adults may have gone to the beach with family or friends during summer vacation.
This crab origami is sure to bring back those happy memories.
When you think of crabs, you think of their claws—these claws are made from a single sheet of origami paper together with the body.
Many people imagine crabs as red, but don’t feel limited to red; try making them with orange or blue origami paper as well.
With the variety of colors and patterns available in origami paper, you can create uniquely expressive pieces.
box of watermelons
Watermelon is one of the iconic foods of summer, isn’t it? Many older adults likely have memories of eating watermelon in the summer.
So this time, we’ll introduce an origami project with a watermelon theme: a watermelon box.
We’ll make the flesh part and the rind part with origami.
By separating them, the flesh becomes the lid and the rind becomes the container.
When finished, you’ll have a triangular watermelon box, just like the slice you hold when you eat it.
It can serve as a little trinket box, and if you put some candy inside and give it to your grandchild, they’ll probably be delighted.
hibiscus
Hibiscus under the hot summer sun.
Wouldn’t it be perfect for an August origami project? Here’s a hibiscus origami craft that almost makes you hear a cheerful “Aloha!” The hibiscus is known for its large, fluttering petals.
You can express this by adding long, narrow creases to the origami when folding the petal sections.
Since it uses a lot of finger movement, it’s also great for brain training and finger dexterity.
Cut the tip of the origami into a curved, petal-like shape.
Create the stamens and pistil in the center, as well as the leaves and stem, attach them to the petals, and you’re done.
It’s a lovely, three-dimensional hibiscus piece.
balloon goldfish
Some older adults may have fond memories of scooping goldfish at summer festival stalls, don’t you think? Watching goldfish gracefully swim in a tank can also evoke a refreshing, cool feeling.
Let’s help older adults feel the arrival of summer with goldfish origami.
If you make a goldfish that turns into a paper balloon, you can blow air into it to create a plump, adorable goldfish.
Try using origami in various colors, or with traditional Japanese patterns or polka dots.
You can create unique pieces that only origami can achieve.
Display them on the wall or paste them onto a backing shaped like an aquarium—your ideas will expand the possibilities of your creations.