[For Seniors] Have Fun Making Things Based on Today’s Mood! Today’s Recommended Craft
There are so many types of craft activities that it can be hard to decide what to do.
For staff, planning in the midst of a busy schedule often leads to similar content over and over—many of you may share this concern.
This article is for those people.
We introduce recommended crafts that change daily!
Since the content is updated every day, you’re sure to find a favorite.
Please use it as a reference and enjoy a fun crafting time with older adults.
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- [For Seniors] Crafts to Make in March! Recommended Project Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy and Fun! Tsumami Zaiku Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended for day services! Simple and cute small craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Lovely Crafts Made with Tissue Paper: Ideas Collection
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
- [For Seniors] Day-service activities also recommended! Craft ideas for November
- For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts – A Collection of Take-Home Project Ideas for Day Service
- [For Seniors] Simple and Fun: Craft Ideas You Can Make with Everyday Items
- Take-Home Craft Ideas for Winter: Perfect for Day Services for Seniors
[For Seniors] Let’s have fun making things that match today’s mood! Today’s recommended crafts (1–10)
A countdown tear-off calendar to your goals and fun events
Many senior care facilities hold seasonal events and activities, don’t they? There are likely older adults who look forward to these events, thinking, “Is it time yet?” That’s why I recommend a countdown tear-off calendar.
You can count down the days to an event or activity by turning a page each day.
If you write the final day’s goal on the calendar, it may make people look forward to flipping each page.
Using washi (masking) tape to flip the date cards is also convenient.
Setsubun tear-off calendar
When it comes to events in February, many people probably think of Setsubun.
Setsubun brings to mind things like oni (demons), bean-throwing, and ehomaki sushi rolls.
Let’s try making a calendar suited to each season by crafting these associated items out of construction paper or cardstock.
For example, New Year’s for January, Hina dolls for March, and cherry-blossom viewing for April.
It could also be fun to have seniors imagine the season and create items based on their answers.
Recalling seasonal themes each month can serve as brain training, too.
By changing the motifs, you can make a calendar that works all year round.
Fireworks calendar with cotton swabs
Fireworks that beautifully color the night sky are also a hallmark of summer.
Are there facilities that host fireworks viewing events? I imagine some older adults once went to see fireworks displays as well.
Let’s make a calendar that expresses fireworks—perfect for the summer mood—using cotton swabs.
Put paint on the tips of the cotton swabs and prepare pieces with only the very ends cut off.
On a circular sheet of drawing paper or origami paper, arrange the painted tips so they look like fireworks.
This fun method should be enjoyable for older adults to try, too.
Besides cotton-swab fireworks, we also recommend adding origami items like fans or shaved ice to the calendar.
[For Seniors] Create Joyfully Based on Today’s Mood! Today’s Recommended Crafts (11–20)
Calendar with sunflower stamp(s)
Let’s make a calendar using handmade sunflower stamps.
Soft materials like erasers or rubber sheets might be easier for older adults to carve.
Both erasers and rubber sheets are conveniently available at 100-yen shops and home improvement stores.
We’ll create stamps for the sunflower petals, the round center and its pattern, and the leaves.
The unique, handcrafted look of the stamps will give the calendar a charming finish.
They’re also great for late-summer greeting postcards.
firefly
These days, we don’t get as many chances to see fireflies glowing over rice fields and waterways at night.
When today’s seniors were young, weren’t there many more fireflies flitting about? Let’s make a calendar using firefly origami that brings back those kinds of summer memories.
Since you’ll make the firefly’s body and its glowing part separately, there are fewer tricky steps.
For the glowing tail, try sticking on a yellow circle cut from origami paper or a round yellow sticker.
Besides calendars, this firefly origami is perfect for summer crafts like wreaths and wall decorations.
Fireworks Milk Carton Fan
On hot summer days, many older adults have probably fanned themselves with a hand fan.
Here’s a perfect summer craft idea: a handmade uchiwa (Japanese fan).
Using an empty milk carton, you can make a sturdy fan.
Cut the milk carton into a circle and tape a chopstick to the outer (printed) side to serve as the handle.
Then cut another circular piece from a milk carton and attach it on top with the white side facing outward.
Draw fireworks on a round piece of construction paper, stick it onto the fan, and you’re done.
The fireworks motif enhances the summery feel and will help older adults enjoy the sense of the season.
A calendar made with stamps
These days, it’s easy to get all kinds of things.
Supplies for craft activities with seniors are also easy to gather.
So, let’s make a calendar using stamps you can find at 100-yen shops or online.
Prepare seasonal stamps or ones that evoke summer or July.
Press the stamps onto the calendar base.
It’s simple to make, so many seniors will likely find it approachable.
You could also add a short message to the calendar.
Calendar bases are available at 100-yen shops and online as well, so give it a try!