For Seniors: Fun, Energetic Ways to Beat the Summer! Origami Idea Roundup
Summer events like festivals and the opening of beach season excite both adults and children, but when the peak of summer arrives, many older adults choose to stay indoors due to the intense heat.
In senior care facilities as well, people tend to spend more time inside.
Even in a cool indoor environment, why not try origami activities that evoke the feeling of summer? Folding motifs like yukata, fireworks, and shaved ice may bring back fond memories of summers past.
Enjoy a wonderful crafting time while sharing those delightful stories from long ago.
- [For Seniors] July-Themed Origami: A Collection of Fun Ideas
- [For Seniors] August-Themed Origami: Simple Ideas to Try
- [For Seniors] Have Fun with Recreation! Origami Ideas
- [For Seniors] Handmade Summer Greeting Cards: A Collection of Lovely Summer Motifs
- [For Seniors] Perfect for June: Introducing simple origami projects
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Hot Summer to the Fullest! A Collection of Easy Craft Ideas
- [Recreation] Summary of Recommended Origami Ideas for Seniors
- [For Care Facilities] Let’s Enjoy the Summer! A Collection of Wall Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Summer Wall Decorations: A Collection of Fun, Eye-Catching Motifs
- [For Seniors] Fun Origami That Also Works as Rehabilitation
- [For Seniors] Enjoy and Beat the Summer Heat! July Craft Ideas
- Easy origami that delights the elderly. Enjoy a heart-lifting time with seasonal origami.
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced
[For Seniors] Have a Fun, Energetic Summer! Origami Ideas Roundup (11–20)
Morning glory flowers and buds
We’d like to share an idea for making morning glory flowers and buds out of origami, a classic symbol of summer.
By combining the flower and the bud, you’ll create a gentle piece full of seasonal charm.
Carefully folding the rounded petals and tiny bud shapes naturally engages your fingertips and makes for good fine-motor exercise.
It may even help prevent cognitive decline, so it’s highly recommended.
By changing the colors and sizes, the same morning glory can really show its individuality.
You can also use them for wall decorations or card-making, and just looking at them brings a refreshing feeling.
Let’s brighten up summer with cheerful origami morning glories!
Making wind chimes
Here are some wind chime craft ideas to make your indoor summer time more enjoyable.
Prepare origami paper and string.
Fold the origami paper in half twice to make a square, draw a 7 cm diameter circle with a compass, and cut it out with scissors.
You should have four circular pieces; fold each one in half with the patterned side inside.
Stack the four folded pieces and glue them together, then trim about 1 cm from the bottom—this will be the outer part of the wind chime.
From another sheet of origami, make a rectangular strip (tanzaku) and attach a thread to it.
Glue the other end of the thread to the center of the outer part, then glue the outer part’s edges together to finish.
windsock garland
In July, many senior care facilities hold Tanabata events and activities, don’t they? Here’s a perfect decor idea for indoor Tanabata celebrations: a streamer garland.
Let’s make star shapes out of origami to evoke the Milky Way of Tanabata.
You’ll fold the paper first, then cut it to create the shapes.
Using fluffy tissue paper, you’ll make the weaving threads.
Incidentally, the streamers are said to represent the weaving threads of Orihime.
Because of this, streamers are imbued with wishes for improvement in weaving skills and for warding off evil.
Why not try making them with older adults while sprinkling in a bit of Tanabata trivia? It’s a fun activity that moves the hands and broadens knowledge at the same time.
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.
Morning glory wreath
Here’s an idea for a seasonal, handmade decoration for older adults that captures the colors of summer: a Morning Glory Wreath.
Make the wreath base by connecting strips of brown origami paper into a circle, then add morning glory flowers and buds using pink and blue origami paper.
Cut leaves and vines from green origami paper and paste them on while checking the overall balance to finish.
This all-paper project is easy to start, and it’s fun to play with color schemes and shapes, giving a sense of accomplishment with each completed piece.
Display it in a room to spread a summery atmosphere—an uplifting decoration that brightens the mood every time you see it.
A heartwarming craft that cherishes the spirit of the season.
Morning-glory swaying wall decoration
The “Swaying Morning Glory Wall Decoration” is a summer craft for older adults that brings both coolness and color.
Cut round shapes from morning glory-colored origami to make the flowers, then cut white origami into star shapes and layer them in the center as a pattern.
Prepare a construction paper base for hanging, attach the flowers and leaves, and finish by suspending it with string.
The gently swaying morning glories look refreshingly cool and bring a summery scene indoors.
It’s a craft that’s enjoyable both to make and to display, refreshing both mind and mood while feeling the season.
Give it a try!
For Seniors: Enjoy a Lively Summer! Origami Idea Collection (21–30)
Morning glories in a three-dimensional hanging scroll style
Here’s an idea for a “three-dimensional hanging scroll-style morning glory” that’s visually striking and brings a summery breeze indoors.
Use origami and straws to create dimensional morning glory flowers and leaves, then arrange them on a tall, narrow sheet of drawing paper to give it the look of a genuine hanging scroll you might display in a traditional Japanese room.
It’s familiar and appealing to seniors, and the piece has a high level of finish, making it especially satisfying to display.
Despite the simple materials, the result looks impressive—fun to make, and afterward it continues to evoke the season.
A vibrant craft perfect for summer.