[For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities

Hagoita making

New Year battledore decorative ornament (Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture)

Hagoita paddles are a classic New Year’s ornament and decoration, aren’t they? They’re believed to ward off evil and wish for good health, and are traditionally given to babies for their first New Year.

The decorations that extend beyond the board evoke the fun and lively atmosphere of the New Year.

There’s complete freedom in how you decorate a hagoita, so why not use the board’s shape as a base and add your own personal touches? You can certainly make one as an ornament, but if you create it with the idea of giving it to someone, you may find it even more meaningful and enjoyable to make.

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roly-poly doll

[Video] Hands Hint Club at Home: “Make a Cute Wobbly Good-Luck Daruma with Paper Clay” [Official Hands]

Let’s try making a small, cute roly-poly daruma using paper clay! Roll the paper clay in your palms into a daruma shape, then press a marble into the bottom.

Once the clay is dry, paint everything except the face with your favorite colors using acrylic paint or oil-based color pens, draw the face, add patterns or characters, and you’re done! When shaping it at the start, flatten or indent the area that will become the face to give it an authentic look.

They’re so small and cute you might want to make several—displaying them in a row looks adorable.

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trivet

Easy! Make a trivet with flyers

This is a trivet made using flyers such as newspapers and leaflets.

You prepare many narrow, folded strips from the flyers and simply weave them together alternately, so it’s actually much easier to make than it looks.

Once it reaches your preferred size, finish the remaining ends by tucking them into the back; you can be casual about it—trim them short or skip one space as you insert them.

In the cold season, it’s handy for placing a pot when you’re enjoying a warm drink.

It’s also a great craft for stimulating the brain through fine finger work.

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Kadomatsu

[Craft Idea] Kadomatsu (New Year’s pine decoration) Paper Craft (New Year/January) (Senior Recreation) (Early Childhood Education) (Creative) (Wall Decoration) (3D) (Seasonal) (Easy)

Let’s make a kadomatsu mascot—an ornament that brightens up the entrance for New Year’s—by combining pieces of origami.

Roll green origami paper into tubes, cut them at an angle to create bamboo, line them up as the base, and then add various decorations.

Since having “pine, bamboo, and plum” together is an essential element of a kadomatsu, keep that in mind as you aim for an auspicious look.

Although it has a three-dimensional appearance, it’s made from origami, so it’s great not only as a tabletop ornament but also as a wall decoration.

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Lucky Daruma

[Newspaper Craft] Let’s Make a Lucky Daruma

A lucky charm that brings a sense of good fortune and lifts your luck when displayed in places like your room or entryway.

How about making a good-luck daruma among such charms? Crumple newspaper tightly into a ball to form the shape and use it as the base for the daruma.

Once it starts to resemble a daruma, use masking tape to firm up and hold the shape together.

Then cover it with origami paper in your favorite color for the daruma’s body—chiyogami or washi works well too.

Draw the face and eyes, and write your favorite word on the belly.

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A ceremonial arrow with an ema (wooden votive plaque) attached

[Craft Idea] Hamaya and Ema (a ceremonial arrow used to drive off evil) Paper Straw Craft (New Year) (paper straws) (activities for seniors and preschool) (wall decoration)

Let’s make a decorative New Year’s bow with an ema plaque! It’s a lovely craft that captures the traditional New Year atmosphere.

It’s great that you can easily make it with paper straws, construction paper, and items from the 100-yen shop.

The process engages concentration and fine motor skills, so it’s also good brain training.

Let’s craft with care, filling each piece with the individual wishes and hopes of each older adult.

Displaying the finished bow will make the joyful New Year spirit even stronger.

Let’s all have fun making it together and boost the New Year mood!

Snow Rabbits and Sasanqua

[Craft Idea] Snow Rabbit and Camellia (January Winter) (Wall Decorations) (Elderly Recreation, Occupational Therapy OT, Day Service, Childcare) (Origami DIY) (Flowers, Creative, Psychiatric Recreation)

Making snow bunnies and sasanqua flowers sounds fun.

The process of assembling the flowers seems like it would spark creativity.

Cutting colored paper also makes for an enjoyable, mentally engaging time.

It may take some time to complete, but it can help build concentration and patience.

Using videos is a great suggestion, too.

It will deepen understanding of the steps and likely give you more time to enjoy the activity.

If you take it slowly and work together with older adults, you’ll create wonderful pieces.

I’ve heard that fine motor tasks using the fingertips also help activate the brain.

Let’s all enjoy making them together and turn it into a lovely memory!