[For Seniors] Easy Craft Activity Using Straws
You might not associate straws with crafts, but you can actually make all sorts of things with them.
This time, we’ll introduce easy straw craft activities that are especially recommended for seniors.
Straws, which are so useful for drinking, can also be used in many ways for crafts.
You can even make flowers and stars with straws.
Some projects involve making cuts and require fine motor work, which can help improve concentration.
Please use this article as a reference for straw craft activities in day service programs and senior care facilities.
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[For Seniors] Simple Craft Activities Using Straws (1–10)
mobile
Easily available straws.
Here’s a straw mobile that you can easily make with either paper or plastic straws.
Since it has an open space inside, it looks cute if you place something in the middle.
You thread yarn through the straws and weave it together, so it can serve as both fine-motor rehabilitation and brain training.
For the inside decorations, you can use artificial flowers from a 100-yen shop, colorful origami creations, pine cones, or dried flowers—all look beautiful.
Ribbon chopstick rest
Let’s make a ribbon-shaped chopstick rest using a bendy straw.
Cut off equal lengths with the flexible section in the center.
Leave only the middle bendy part, cut off both sides, then open them up and insert them into the flexible section.
There’s also a variation of this arrangement.
The method is simple, but because cutting and spreading a thin straw involves fine motor work, it can be helpful for hand rehabilitation.
Making several and using them as chopstick rests for a party is a great idea, too.
Sakura Necklace
Let’s make a cute cherry blossom necklace using straws and origami.
First, divide a sheet of origami paper into four equal squares, then fold each one into five sections to create cherry blossoms.
Once you learn this method, it’s handy for easily making stars and flowers too.
Next, add leaves made from origami, punch a hole in the center, prepare some thread, and string them in the order of a short piece of straw, a flower, a straw, and a flower.
Threading straws onto the string is also great for fine motor rehabilitation, so I highly recommend it.
It also makes a lovely room decoration.
[For Seniors] Easy Crafts Using Straws (11–20)
Butterfly straw decoration
You often see origami that isn’t made of paper, right? This material was originally developed to make it easy to fold polyester sheets, which didn’t fold well before.
It has transparency and a glossy finish, and it’s water-resistant.
Let’s use it to make decorations for straws.
They’re handy at parties as markers so you don’t mix up your drink with someone else’s.
Stack two quarter-size sheets of origami, fold them in half, cut out a butterfly shape, then make a slit along the center line for the straw to pass through—and you’re done.
Dear little star
How about a simple star craft you can make with just two straws? When it comes to star decorations, making them with origami might be the most well-known method.
But stars made from straws have a different, dreamy look that’s really beautiful, so I recommend giving it a try.
You interweave and overlap the ends of the straws, repeating the process over and over; as the corners increase, it eventually forms the shape of a star.
For a fun variation, try using two different colored straws to make it look even more vibrant!
flapping straw
How about a super impactful flapping-straw idea that moves dynamically like a living bug? First, take two straws, bend them at the accordion (flex) sections, align them, and cut.
Next, cut another straw in half, thread a string through a rubber band, and tie it into a loop.
Then thread the rubber band through a non-accordion straw, pass the other half through in the same way, and cut the twine—that’s it.
Finally, place it on a desk, twist the side “legs,” and let go; it will spin around with a cute, bug-like motion from the recoil!
glasses
Cute glasses made with pipe cleaners, straws, and scissors are also recommended! Since you don’t need many supplies, it’s easy to get started.
Prepare four pipe cleaners and two straws, then pinch and twist the ends of each pipe cleaner.
Make two of these, then bring the ends together to form a V shape.
Twist the two V-shaped pieces together to complete the frame.
Finally, cut the straws to the length of the arms of the glasses, twist them onto the frame to attach, and you’re done!