![[For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/Zo1-Gx4Nuv0/maxresdefault.webp)
As the seasons shift from autumn to winter, the days are getting chilly.
For many older adults, going out can start to feel like a hassle.
So this time, we’re introducing origami that’s perfect for winter.
There are lots of delightful designs to make, like winter flowers, snowmen, and New Year’s good-luck charms.
It’s also fun to make plenty and use them as wall decorations or hanging ornaments.
What’s more, fine motor activities that use the fingers can stimulate the brain and help prevent dementia.
Please enjoy making them together and have a wonderful time.
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[For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter (1–10)
Simple and cute long-tailed tit
Do you know the bird that’s also called the “snow fairy”? It’s known for its tiny, snow-white body and round, beady eyes, and many people can’t help but call it “cute” when they see it.
In fact, this bird—the long-tailed tit (shimaenaga)—only lives in Hokkaido, Japan, and it’s not something you get to see very often.
So let’s try folding this adorable snow fairy, the shimaenaga, with origami.
The folding steps are mostly simple, but the key point is to use the white back side of the origami paper.
Fold it so that the white side becomes the face and body, just like a real shimaenaga.
Then fold the wings and tail feathers using the colored side.
How about folding one together with seniors while sharing fun facts about the shimaenaga?
First sunrise of the year from Mount Fuji
“First Mt.
Fuji, second hawk, third eggplant” is a well-known saying about the order of auspicious things to see in your first dream of the year on January 1.
It’s a superstition that dates back to the Edo period, and it shows how deeply Japanese people have revered Mt.
Fuji.
Let’s fold origami with the theme of the first sunrise as seen from that lucky Mt.
Fuji.
We’ll make parts for Mt.
Fuji, the sun, and clouds out of origami paper.
All three can be made with simple folds, so it’s a project that older adults can enjoy while chatting with people around them.
Once each part is finished, you can paste them onto a backing sheet or attach them to a wreath for a lovely result.
If you stick them on an ema plaque, it gives an even stronger New Year’s and winter feeling, which is highly recommended.
Maple leaves and ginkgo
When the weather turns chilly in winter, don’t you think older adults may find themselves gazing outside through the window more often? Even if we spend more time indoors, here are some origami maple and ginkgo leaves that let you feel the arrival of late autumn and winter.
Both the maple and the ginkgo start with accordion folding.
From there, trim the tips or curve the accordion folds to shape them.
Make plenty to decorate the wall, or use them for wreaths—they’ll look lovely either way.
It’s the kind of project that can spark lively conversations with seniors about their past autumn and winter memories while you craft together.
amulet
One of the big events in winter is the New Year holiday season.
Many seniors probably went for year-end temple or shrine visits and New Year’s visits during this time and received omamori charms, didn’t they? By using washi-patterned origami paper, you can make lovely charms that look just like the real thing.
The folding method is simple, so they’re easy to make.
Also, since no glue is used, they could work as little money envelopes for your grandchildren.
Of course, they would also make wonderful gifts as charms for grandchildren and relatives’ children gathered for New Year’s.
It’s a project that people will likely enjoy even more if you include a letter inside the charm when you give it to them.
Snowman made from a single sheet of origami paper
When we think of winter, it’s a season when it sometimes snows—and building a snowman is a classic activity for snowy days.
Here’s a way to make a snowman out of a single sheet of origami paper; you can use it not only as a mascot but also as a decoration.
Choose your origami paper based on the color of the hat you want the snowman to wear: use the reverse side for the body and the front side for the hat.
Pay close attention to how you fold and unfold; adding rounded curves with reverse folds is the key point.
You’ll draw the face after the whole shape is finished, so that’s where you can add your own originality.
Narcissus and the Box
Daffodils, which bloom with delicate white or yellow flowers, can start flowering as early as December for early-blooming varieties.
Among older adults, some may count daffodils as one of their favorite winter flowers.
Let’s crease the origami paper and begin folding.
There are a few slightly complex steps, but older adults who are skilled at origami will find it a satisfying project.
If any older adults find the folding method difficult, please have people around them provide support.
By adding a stem to the origami daffodil and making a box to serve as a vase, you can also enjoy it as a lovely interior decoration.
Easily Made Kadomatsu
These days, it seems fewer companies and households display kadomatsu for the New Year.
A kadomatsu is a sacred placeholder used to welcome Toshigami, the deity of the New Year.
An yorishiro is an object where a divine spirit alights, and some older adults may value kadomatsu very highly.
This time, let’s fold a kadomatsu out of origami to help older adults feel the New Year spirit.
We’ll start by making the crease lines, then fold it into the shape of a kadomatsu.
Since the process uses the fingertips a lot, it can be expected to stimulate the brain.
Fold the fan and base as well, paste everything together, and it’s complete.
It’s a cute kadomatsu you can display in your room.