[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
- [For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January
- 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 (131–140)
Cute ema made with finger stamps
This activity involves pasting a large illustration of the zodiac in the center of construction paper cut into the shape of an ema plaque, then decorating around it with paint.
By applying the paint with your fingers, you can add softness and a sense of depth.
Consider how to arrange auspicious, New Year–themed elements and decorate your ema with your own design.
Since the unique feel comes from not using a brush, if you’re uncomfortable getting paint on your fingers, try using familiar tools instead.
It’s also fun to observe how the paint looks different depending on the method you use.
First calligraphy Daruma
Why not try making a “first-drawing daruma” to bring good luck at the start of the year? The process is simple—just paint a daruma with a brush—so anyone can easily give it a try.
It’s also a great New Year’s–themed activity.
The key is to use your brush to create a daruma full of personality.
Paste your daruma onto your favorite backing paper and decorate around it with origami for a vibrant finish.
Enjoy making a first-drawing daruma that’s perfect for welcoming the new year!
Daruma made of newspaper
Daruma dolls have long been cherished and displayed as symbols that bring good fortune.
Especially at the start of a new year, many people entrust their wishes to a Daruma.
This time, let’s make a large Daruma out of newspaper.
You’ll need a balloon, newspaper, calligraphy paper (hanshi), origami paper, glue, and so on.
The task of cutting the newspaper into small pieces is also great for dexterity rehabilitation for seniors.
Inflating the balloon requires some strength, so staff should assist with that step.
The process is very simple, making it an ideal craft activity for older adults.
Display your large Daruma and welcome in good luck!
Let’s write and display it: New Year’s calligraphy
If you’re looking for something to do in the New Year, I recommend kakizome, the first calligraphy of the year.
Kakizome is a custom that has been enjoyed since the Edo period, in which you write down your resolutions and goals for the year.
Not only is it fun to practice writing beautifully, but deciding on your resolutions and goals can also help you start the year with a positive mindset.
Why not give it a try while pondering which characters to write? After you finish, it would look lovely displayed on the wall.
By the way, it’s said to be especially auspicious to do kakizome on January 2.
Plum hanging decorations
These are plum hanging decorations that give a pop twist to the traditionally Japanese plum blossom motif.
Plum blossoms have long been cherished as a lucky symbol of early spring.
Many seniors will find them familiar, so please give this craft a try! Combine two lengths of strip-cut colored paper to create the petals.
Since you assemble them while stapling, it’s easy and smooth even for older adults.
These decorations are perfect for February events like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day, so enjoy displaying them at home or in care facilities.
New Year’s decorations with camellias
This New Year’s decoration features camellias, a quintessential flower that brightens up winter! With simple steps like cutting and gluing paper, it’s perfect for a January craft activity at a day-service center.
The key is to round the camellia petals using chopsticks or another stick-shaped tool.
For the flower’s center, cut construction paper into a long, narrow strip, snip fringe along one side, curl it with chopsticks, and wrap it around a plastic bottle cap.
It looks striking on its own as a decoration, but you can also customize it in many ways—such as adding a shimenawa or mizuhiki—so give it a try!
New Year’s Crane
How about making a New Year’s crane with a fan out of origami? Just displaying it in your entryway or a room will instantly enhance the festive New Year atmosphere! It’s also perfect for a New Year’s craft activity at day service centers, so why not give it a try? The key to this origami is to crease firmly as you fold.
There are a few finer steps, but they’re just right for finger dexterity training for older adults! Opening the fan at the end makes it suddenly more dazzling.
Using double-sided origami with a plain color on one side and a pattern on the other will make it even more beautiful, so be sure to try it!