[For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January
Origami involves fine hand movements and is expected to stimulate the brain, so it’s a recreational activity that’s great to include for dementia prevention.
Another nice thing about origami is that it’s easy to enjoy and can be done together with grandchildren and family.
Here, we’ll introduce ways to fold and make origami—especially ideas you can enjoy in January.
Create items perfect for January events with origami, and enjoy them together while feeling the season.
There are plenty of ideas you can also apply to January wall decorations.
- [For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas: Boost Your Luck with New Year Decorations and Good-Luck Charms
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- Lucky Daruma: Craft ideas for decorating January wall displays for seniors
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- For Seniors: Auspicious Handmade Zodiac Ornament Craft Ideas
- For seniors: Snowman crafts to brighten January wall displays—fun ideas using origami, paper plates, and papercutting.
- [For Seniors] Craft Ideas Recommended for New Year’s and the New Year
- Recommended Origami for Seniors: Fun December Theme
- [Recreation] Summary of Recommended Origami Ideas for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Heartwarming and Cozy: Perfect Wall Decoration Ideas for Winter in Care Facilities
[For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January (11–20)
Zodiac animals
Let’s try making a dragon—the only mythical animal in the zodiac—out of origami! Dragons are characterized by their long whiskers and impressive horns.
Since these parts require fine work, it might be a good idea to cut and prepare them in advance.
For the face and body, there are steps where you open up folds, so the key is to make crisp crease lines.
Once you draw the eyes and facial patterns with a pen or brush, it’s complete! We also recommend turning it into a wallpaper together with a kadomatsu.
Decorate with this dragon and celebrate the New Year!
ema (votive wooden plaque)
How about making an ema out of origami? It’s perfect for the start of the New Year.
Pick your favorite color of origami paper and let’s fold it together.
The steps are simple, so you can take your time and enjoy the process.
Once it’s done, how about writing a wish or a goal on it? An ema crafted with care can be displayed in your room or given as a gift to someone special.
If everyone makes them together, the conversation will flow and it’ll turn into a fun time.
Let’s invite happiness into the new year with origami ema.
Fukuwarai wall decoration of a rabbit daruma
We’d love to make a rabbit daruma “fukuwarai” to wish for a year full of smiles.
Fukuwarai is a New Year’s game—some of you might have played it as children.
The goofy faces that result from placing parts while blindfolded always get a laugh.
This wall decoration is a fukuwarai-themed rabbit daruma.
Crafting the rabbit’s parts out of construction paper takes a bit of delicate work.
Since rabbits have such a cute image, you’ll probably find yourself smiling as you make it.
It’s recommended to display it in your room or by the entrance as a charm for good luck.
New Year’s origami
Let’s try folding a daruma doll using a single sheet of origami paper! The steps are simple, but you’ll end up with a cute daruma.
Once it’s done, draw the face with a pen or use round stickers—try different expressions and enjoy customizing it! Origami is said to stimulate and activate the brain by using your fingertips and thinking through the next steps.
It’s also easy to do while chatting with others, which helps spark social interaction.
Please make use of origami daruma to create a delightful time for older adults.
New Year’s decoration chopstick rest
As a table-coordination item to welcome the New Year on a pleasant note, we recommend lucky chopstick rests made from origami! Origami is also effective for finger rehabilitation for seniors, so why not give it a try? You can make one chopstick rest from a single sheet of origami paper.
This design combines a fan and a crane: first create the fan portion, then fold the crane.
Because the chopstick rest itself is small, the folds become finer as you go, which may feel a bit challenging.
The final design places the crane at the center of the fan, so it can be used not only as a chopstick rest but also as a decorative accent for New Year’s festivities.
Good Fortune Crane
How about making an “ofukuwake crane” that’s perfect for gifting sweets or small items? It’s considered lucky, so why not enjoy trying it at the start of the year! Up to a certain point, the steps are the same as folding a traditional paper crane, so if you’ve made one before, you should find this easy.
The design features an open back on the crane, so pack the sweets or small items into that space beforehand.
Finally, punch holes at the tips of the wings, thread a ribbon through, and tie it over the crane’s back for an elegant finish! Have fun arranging it with different patterned origami papers.
[For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January (21–30)
small decorative money envelope (pochibukuro)
Pochi-bukuro (little money envelopes) that come in handy for New Year’s.
Many seniors probably give their grandchildren New Year’s gift money tucked into these envelopes.
If they’re handmade, they feel even more heartfelt and lovely! With just origami paper and washi (masking) tape, you can make them easily—why not give it a try? The steps are simple, with few folds, so anyone can make them casually—that’s the key point! For the finishing touch, fold a strip of masking tape in half to make a decorative cord, wrap it around the envelope, and you’re done in no time.
Also, if you reverse the sides when using double-sided origami paper, it changes the look, so be sure to try that too!