[For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Recommended Origami for February
How about enjoying origami indoors, where it’s warm, in February when the chill still lingers?
Many senior facilities incorporate origami into their recreational activities.
The process of folding—using your fingertips for mountain and valley folds—helps train fine motor skills.
Also, thinking through the folding steps, changing orientation for the next move, and similar mental tasks stimulate the brain and can help prevent cognitive decline.
Finished pieces can be displayed around the facility or in one’s own room for visual enjoyment.
Origami is an activity that provides a sense of accomplishment when completed.
With origami themed around February, enjoy a pleasant time while feeling the season.
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[For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Recommended Origami for February (21–30)
Heart with a ribbon
February 14 is Valentine’s Day.
Some senior and care facilities may also hold Valentine’s Day events, don’t you think? These loving events often involve giving chocolates or sweets as presents.
Let’s make a ribbon-topped origami heart to add a festive touch to such occasions.
Prepare a rectangular sheet of origami paper by cutting a square sheet in half.
Make the creases and proceed with the folding.
There are some detailed steps, such as holding the paper down with one finger while folding with another.
This fine finger work helps stimulate the brain, but if the difficulty is high, staff should provide support.
The cute design of a heart with a ribbon on top is sure to delight older adults.
Rose Heart
Here’s a Rose Heart that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day decorations.
Roses are known for their many overlapping petals, right? You can capture that petal look with origami, too.
First, crease the paper so it becomes a small square.
Then roll the paper inward from the center to form the overlapping petals.
It’s a fun method, but some older adults may find it difficult at first.
Try making it together with them.
Once the petals are formed, shape it into a heart to finish.
You can also use it for wreaths or hanging decorations.
Ehomaki
Ehomaki are sushi rolls eaten while facing the year’s lucky direction, called the “eho,” on Setsubun.
At senior care facilities, some may also serve easy-to-eat versions of ehomaki during Setsubun events.
Eating ehomaki is a way to wish for good fortune in the coming year.
Let’s try folding this lucky item out of origami.
An ehomaki has the black seaweed exterior and the white rice inside, but we’ll make it using a single sheet of origami paper.
Some steps are a bit complex, but seniors who are skilled at origami will likely enjoy making it.
Please have those around them support the challenging parts.
For the fillings, you can easily create them using round stickers.
Of course, coloring is fine too.
Through creating their own ehomaki, seniors might find an opportunity to reflect on their past Setsubun memories.
maneki-neko (beckoning cat)
Do you know what day February 22 is? The date lines up with three twos, and thanks to a wordplay reading, it’s known as Cat Day.
The number 2 can be read as “nyan,” like a cat’s meow, which is how the anniversary was established.
On this day, many cat-themed events and campaigns are held.
Today, we’re introducing an origami project perfect for February: a lucky beckoning cat (maneki-neko).
While white maneki-neko are common, it could be fun to make them in various colors.
If you add an origami cushion or a small gold coin alongside the maneki-neko, it will look even more charming.
How about folding them together with older adults while chatting about cat trivia?
Hanging decoration with camellias and paper fans
Here is an introduction to a hanging decoration featuring camellias, flowers that herald the arrival of spring.
Use two square sheets of origami paper, cut them into circles, and create the petals.
Colors like red, white, or pink—which evoke the image of camellias—might work well.
If you layer the two sets of petals with their positions slightly offset, you can make a piece that closely resembles a real camellia.
Make the stamens with yellow origami and attach them to the center.
It’s also recommended to hang a paper fan made by gluing together four accordion-folded pieces of origami.
This project can help older adults sense the season and the coming of spring through the camellia motif.
Cat and a Kotatsu
On cold days, you just want to tuck yourself into a kotatsu and get warm, don’t you? This time of year also brings to mind the image of cats curling up under the kotatsu.
Let’s recreate that scene with origami.
Use your favorite papers—such as traditional Japanese patterns or polka dots—to make the kotatsu.
Then fold a cat and some tangerines to place on top of the table.
Assemble all the parts by gluing them together to finish.
Some older adults may even feel the season through this cat-and-kotatsu craft.
It’s also fun to arrange the pieces by mounting them on a backing sheet or attaching them to a calendar.
Setsubun wreath
Here’s a wreath themed around Setsubun, perfect for February.
The wreath base is also made from origami, and you only need two folds to make it.
Let’s create items related to Setsubun with origami, such as oni (demons), beans and a masu box, and ehomaki rolls.
Even though we call it Setsubun, there are regional differences, aren’t there? It might be fun to make origami that reflects customs unique to your area.
You could also ask older adults about traditional Setsubun practices passed down over the years and incorporate those ideas.
Please use this as inspiration to create a lovely Setsubun wreath.