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 (121–130)

Chinese zodiac (the sexagenary cycle)

[One sheet of origami] Easy Dragon 🐉 How to make a paper dragon #dragon #dragon (Chinese) #the_dragon (Arabic) #DragonBall #Tatsu (zodiac) #ryū #ryō (dragon) #Rồng (Vietnamese) #용 (Korean) #YearOfTheDragon #how_to_fold #origami #paper #paper_folding

Chinese zodiac (the sexagenary cycle)

Let’s decorate with the zodiac animal that symbolizes the year and celebrate the New Year! Displaying the zodiac, which is familiar to many older adults, helps them enjoy the joy of the new year and the seasonal atmosphere.

You can easily make zodiac animals with origami, so give it a try! The mood also changes depending on how you display them—such as figurines, wall decorations, or hanging ornaments.

In addition to the zodiac, combining them with other New Year–themed items can help older adults feel even more of the New Year spirit.

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Origami: Mount Fuji ema (votive plaque)

[New Year Origami] How to Make an Ema of Mt. Fuji

Origami: Mount Fuji ema (votive plaque)

How about making an origami ema plaque with your New Year’s wishes for the New Year? First, fold the origami paper toward the center to halve it, then fold it in half again.

Next, fold the left and right sides diagonally to create angles and form the shape of an ema.

Finally, make a slit in the center so you can thread a string through.

Also, slightly fold each of the four corners of a small red origami paper to make a sun; fold a small green origami paper like a crane at first, then spread the left and right sides to make a pine shape.

For the blue origami paper, if you use the white reverse side to suggest snow, you can create a beautiful Mt.

Fuji.

With the first sunrise from Mt.

Fuji, your auspicious ema is complete!

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Sea bream made with origami

How to fold an origami sea bream [New Year]

Sea bream made with origami

Why not try making a sea bream out of origami, with a wish for a joyous year? It’s an idea you can also use for a January craft activity at a day service, so feel free to take inspiration! The key to origami sea bream is to pre-fold several times to set firm creases.

Because there are many creases, if you find it hard to fold, it might be easier to draw guide lines as you go.

Finish by drawing the bream’s face and scale patterns however you like, and you’re done! You can also adapt it as a little accent for New Year’s decorations, so why not give it a try?

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Kadomatsu made of origami

[Origami] New Year’s Decoration: How to Make a Kadomatsu | Winter Origami

Kadomatsu made of origami

How about making kadomatsu out of origami as part of your New Year’s decorations? It takes a bit of time, but you don’t need any difficult techniques, so give it a try! The pine, bamboo, and plum motifs, the fan, and even the kadomatsu base—everything is made from origami.

Because there’s lots of detailed work, it’s perfect for finger dexterity training for seniors and for helping prevent cognitive decline.

If smaller origami paper is hard to work with, feel free to adapt the project by using larger sheets.

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[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas to Make at Day Service (131–140)

New Year decorations made with origami and paper flowers

New Year decorations made with easy origami and tissue paper (with audio commentary) – Origami Japanese New Year decoration

New Year decorations made with origami and paper flowers

We’d like to introduce a New Year’s decoration you can make with origami and tissue paper—perfect for cozy winter days at home or for recreation at day service centers! It’s appealing because you can make it with familiar materials like origami and tissue paper.

Arrange a tissue paper flower, a fan made by accordion-folding origami, and mizuhiki cords in a well-balanced way.

The key is to attach the mizuhiki to the fan and then secure the paper flower last! Changing the color or pattern of the origami for the fan and the color of the mizuhiki will dramatically change the overall look, so give it a try.

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Origami crane card stand

How to fold an origami crane card stand

Origami crane card stand

This is an origami crane card stand that can be used in various settings, such as interior decor or place cards.

How about making this festive origami as a January craft idea? Origami is also effective for seniors’ finger rehabilitation and dementia prevention.

The folds aren’t very difficult, so anyone can enjoy giving it a try.

The design lets you tuck a card into the crane’s back.

Changing the paper pattern will give it a different look, so be sure to experiment! It also makes a great small gift, return present, or New Year’s greeting.

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Lucky Cat New Year Wreath

[Origami] How to make a New Year’s wreath — Origami New Year’s Wreath

Lucky Cat New Year Wreath

New Year decorations that wish for the health and happiness of your family—how about making them with origami? This time, we’re introducing a particularly cute one: a “Maneki-neko New Year wreath.” First, combine four sheets of origami to create the wreath portion.

Using patterned origami gives it a pop and lively look.

Once the wreath is complete, fold a Maneki-neko and attach it to the wreath.

Feel free to change the cat’s expression to your liking.

This way, a New Year decoration that is already auspicious will feel even more lucky.

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