Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities

Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

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 to Make at Day Service (111–120)

Toilet-paper kadomatsu

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll ‘Kadomatsu’: Easy New Year’s Craft

Toilet-paper kadomatsu

Here’s a decorative kadomatsu you can make by reusing toilet paper rolls.

It’s perfect for a New Year’s craft activity, so consider trying it at a day service center or similar setting.

Cut the ends of toilet paper rolls diagonally and wrap them with green construction paper to represent bamboo.

Make three of these and glue them together.

Next, take a rectangular piece of construction paper, snip fine cuts along the top and bottom edges, and wrap it around the bamboo to finish.

For an even more festive look, wrap red construction paper or washi-patterned paper over it.

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[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service (121–130)

Snowman made of plastic bags

[Craft Play] Easy-to-make snowman using a plastic bag

Snowman made of plastic bags

This is a cute snowman mascot that you can easily make using a plastic bag.

The steps are simple: stuff cotton into a white plastic bag, tie the opening, and shape it into two sections, using yarn as a scarf.

Then, add facial features with stickers or cotton balls, and attach a paper cup as a hat to cover the tied opening, and you’re done.

Packing the cotton firmly while being mindful of the bag’s wrinkles gives the snowman a fuller look.

Choosing different colors for the decorations is also a great way to add originality.

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Felt kadomatsu

[No-sew] New Year Decoration Made of Felt / Felt Kadomatsu / DIY: How to Make a Felt Japanese New Year Decoration

Felt kadomatsu

Let’s try making a kadomatsu using warm, cozy felt fabric! You can make it without sewing, and since you’ll be using your fingers a lot, it’s perfect for finger dexterity training for seniors.

Cut out each part—pine, bamboo, and plum—from felt, then attach them with a glue gun or similar adhesive.

A good tip is to make the bamboo first as the base, then arrange the other plants while checking the balance.

Watching it gradually take on the look of a kadomatsu will likely be exciting for seniors, too.

You can also enjoy customizing it, such as by changing the decoration colors!

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Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)

[Origami] Easy! 6 Ways to Fold Small Gift Envelopes (Pochi-bukuro) | [Origami] 6 Envelopes Tutorial | Handmade with DAISO Origami 🎍 New Year Preparations

Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)

The New Year marks the beginning of the year.

There are many fun things about the New Year—like osechi cuisine and traditional games—but for children, receiving New Year’s gift money (otoshidama) is also a big highlight.

Many people give otoshidama to their children or grandchildren during the New Year holidays.

How about making your own cute and beautiful pochibukuro—small envelopes for otoshidama or pocket money? Store-bought ones are fine, but otoshidama given in a handmade envelope crafted from pretty origami paper feels even more special.

All you need is origami with elegant, traditional Japanese patterns.

There are several folding variations, too.

With a bit of creativity, it’s a wonderful New Year’s idea that brings joy to both the giver and the receiver.

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Snowman made from a Yakult container

[100-Yen DIY] Snowman made from Yakult containers ⛄️

Snowman made from a Yakult container

How about making cute snowman figures using containers from lactic acid bacteria drinks? First, remove the lid and the surrounding plastic film from the container.

Then cover it with white fabric—if you want to create a soft, fluffy snowman look, using quilt batting is recommended.

Once the whole surface is covered, use yarn to make a hat for the snowman.

Finally, add beads for the snowman’s eyes, nose, and other facial features, and decorate the body as you like—then it’s done! Make several and display them together to create a lively, gentle atmosphere.

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Wobbling daruma

[Preschool Craft] New Year’s decoration: cute wobbly Daruma | Daruma doll for New Year’s decoration

Wobbling daruma

You probably often see stationary daruma dolls, but wobbling ones are quite rare, aren’t they? This time, we’re introducing a daruma you can make with a paper plate and construction paper.

It looks lovely as a New Year’s decoration for your room and is also recommended as a wall decoration for New Year’s parties.

The process is simple—just cut the construction paper and stick it onto the paper plate—so it’s perfect for craft activities with seniors.

Craft activities help improve concentration and can even aid in preventing dementia.

Let’s all have fun making uniquely charming daruma dolls together.

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Seven Lucky Gods origami

[Origami of the Seven Lucky Gods] Cute good-luck charm! How to fold a seated Benzaiten (Benten)

Seven Lucky Gods origami

The Seven Lucky Gods are said to be a group formed by deities from various religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism.

They’re like the Avengers of the gods.

In fact, there are countries and regions where they’re considered the Eight Lucky Gods.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to fold the Seven Lucky Gods in origami? If you’re enjoying this at a senior facility, it might be nice to divide them among seven people so each person makes a different deity.

These days, there’s plenty of knowledge and information about origami available, from professional origami websites to hobbyist videos.

Find something that matches your skill level and give it a try!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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