[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
In January, we have the longstanding Japanese traditional event, the New Year’s celebration.
Many day service centers and welfare facilities likely put a lot of effort into decorations themed around January, the start of a new year.
So this time, we’ll introduce January crafts recommended for day service programs.
It’s still quite chilly, so let’s enjoy craft activities you can do indoors!
Even after the New Year’s holidays, winter-themed decorations like snow motifs and plum blossoms can stay up and be enjoyed as they are.
In addition to decorations, we’ve assembled many works that are perfect for January.
There are lots of ideas, including auspicious items, practical pieces, and projects that incorporate creative twists in the materials.
By all means, use these January craft ideas as a reference.
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas: Boost Your Luck with New Year Decorations and Good-Luck Charms
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- For Seniors: Auspicious Handmade Zodiac Ornament Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Let’s Make New Year Decorations by Hand! A Collection of Easy Ideas Using Everyday Materials
- [For Seniors] Recommended for day services! Simple and cute small craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January
- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
- Lucky Daruma: Craft ideas for decorating January wall displays for seniors
- For seniors: Snowman crafts to brighten January wall displays—fun ideas using origami, paper plates, and papercutting.
- [For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Craft Ideas Recommended for New Year’s and the New Year
- [For Seniors] Perfect for winter events! Easy craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Decorate your January wall with rabbits! Packed with ideas like snowball fights, New Year’s festivities, and rice cake pounding
[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas to Make at Day-Service Centers (71–80)
Making a Kadomatsu with everyday materials
Let’s collect toilet paper rolls and transform them into a lovely kadomatsu decoration.
Although we usually throw away toilet paper cores, repurposing them turns waste into something eco-friendly.
Cut the toilet paper rolls and cover them with patterned origami paper to create the base of the kadomatsu.
Because the base circle is small, make the bamboo, pine needles, and fan decorations inside on a smaller scale.
This project should be quite enjoyable for people who are good with their hands or who love origami.
If crafting parts like the bamboo is difficult, ask someone nearby to help.
Seniors are likely to enjoy making these adorable, palm-sized kadomatsu too.
Snow Rabbit Kagami Mochi and Sanpō
Decorations of a snow rabbit kagamimochi and a sanpo tray that you can make with familiar materials and give a three-dimensional feel.
With its traditional Japanese atmosphere, this craft is recommended for seniors as interior decor or a hands-on activity.
Crumple tissue paper to form large and small mochi, and stack them in a balanced way.
Use a long No.
3 envelope as the base; placing the kagamimochi on top creates the look of a sanpo tray.
Make parts like the red berries of nandina and the rabbit’s ears from origami paper, and by getting creative with the expression, you can finish it as an adorable snow rabbit.
The soft texture of paper and cotton gives it a gentle impression, making it a friendly New Year’s decoration.
It’s an idea that conveys the warmth of something handmade.
Swaying Snowman Wreath
Let’s make a wreath you can enjoy displaying not only at Christmas but throughout the winter.
The main motif is a snowman, so the key is to keep the edges rounded and make everything as circular as possible! You’ll need a paper plate, colored construction paper, masking tape, jute twine, fishing line (monofilament), paints, oil-based colored pens, a snowflake-shaped craft punch, double-sided tape, a utility knife, and scissors.
Instead of finishing it in a single day, aim to complete it over two to three days—you’ll be able to take your time and focus on the details.
Give it a try!
Snowman-shaped Christmas wreath
Stylish and beautiful! Let’s try making an authentic wreath that soothes you just by looking at it.
The key is using bases of different sizes so that, on closer look, they form the shape of a snowman.
It would be wonderful to finish your one-of-a-kind piece packed with details using dried flowers, all while having fun.
The appeal is that you can get everything you need even at a 100-yen shop.
The process of attaching the bases, dried flowers, ribbon, and felt motifs with glue or a glue gun is exciting.
January coloring calendar
@warabi2022 They did some coloring on a January calendar for us. We’ve also put the finished pieces up in their own room. Seeing them every time they go in and out helps improve orientation, and above all, since they drew them themselves, they feel attached to them. 😊 Many thanks to the staff member who suggested it! ✨JanuaryColoring bookone-of-a-kindorientation#cuteSmileLovelyTranslationThank you very much.TranslationCaregiverRehabilitationNurse
Subtitle – Official HIGE DANDism
There are many coloring pages available online that you can download for free.
How about using some of those to make a January calendar? You’re free to enjoy coloring however you like—go with classic colored pencils, or use paints, crayons, or even cosmetics to express your colors.
Once you finish your coloring page, attach it together with the calendar section onto a backing sheet and display it on your wall.
Choose New Year’s or winter-themed designs to create.
Festive Sea Bream New Year Calendar
Why not try depicting a celebratory sea bream using construction paper and Japanese-patterned origami? Every time you look at the calendar, it will lift your spirits.
First, cut the parts out of construction paper.
You’ll need the bream’s body, scales, Mount Fuji, the sun, and wave pieces.
Make the scales by cutting the Japanese-patterned origami into circles.
Once all the parts are cut out, design them freely in the blank space of the mounting board where the calendar is attached.
For an even livelier look, draw the fin patterns and the eye with a pen.
Stamp calendar – first sunrise of the year
@hoiku.labo [Craft for ages 3–5] January means… a sunrise calendar 🌅#Childcare Crafting#Nursery school#KindergartenNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten Teacher#Drawers of ChildcareWith childrenEasy to make#Stamp playStampCalendarNew Year#SunriseNew Year's Day# January production⭐↓Detailed steps and instructions are in the comments↓⭐
♬ Original Song – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Delivering Useful Information for Nursery Teachers – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information
Let’s draw a picture suitable for a January calendar, imagining the first sunrise of the year as seen from the seaside.
First, use crayons to draw a half-sun rising from the horizon, then use stamps below it to represent the sea.
You can make the sea a single shade of blue, or layer white and yellow to show the reflection of the morning sun.
Once the picture is finished, attach it toward the top of the backing, and then stick the calendar date section below it to complete your piece.
For the dates, either write them by hand or print and use a free downloadable image.