[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
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- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
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- Lucky Daruma: Craft ideas for decorating January wall displays for seniors
- Easy origami that delights the elderly. Enjoy a heart-lifting time with seasonal origami.
- 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 (21–30)
Three-dimensional kagami mochi
This three-dimensional kagami mochi is perfect for decorating small spaces in care facilities or rooms.
It’s also a great option for a winter craft activity at day-service centers, so why not give it a try? The main tasks are cutting and gluing origami, making it ideal for fine motor training for seniors.
The two-tiered mochi and the daidai (bitter orange) create a three-dimensional look.
Also, since the decorations for kagami mochi vary by region, be sure to decorate it in a way that suits your local area!
Super easy Daruma-san
This is a decorative daruma that uses both sides of the origami paper to create color contrast, with a striking three-dimensional look.
First, make creases that connect the corners, and use those as guides to shape it into a daruma.
It’s also important to fold parts back so the white side shows; how you reveal this white area will change the expression.
Once the overall shape is set while letting some white show, the base is complete.
After that, draw the face and patterns with a pen.
The way you draw them adds originality, so it’s fun to see what kind of daruma each person creates.
[For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January (31–40)
origami octopus
How about everyone trying to make octopuses out of origami? With an easy folding method, you can create lovely octopuses.
It’s a familiar pastime for older adults, too, so it might bring back fond memories.
If we decorate the facility with the octopuses everyone makes, it will look lively and cheerful.
Origami is easy to do, so it’s nice that you can enjoy it while chatting.
It also provides a chance for seniors to communicate with each other, and moving the fingers helps train the brain.
Let’s have fun doing origami together!
amulet
When it comes to New Year’s in Japan, many people think of hatsumode (the first shrine visit), ema (votive tablets), and omamori (charms).
This video introduces how to make an omamori using origami! Let older adults pick their favorite color of origami paper and, using the video as a guide, create a one-of-a-kind handmade charm.
At the end, make a paper talisman to represent a sacred amulet slip, write your wish on it, and place it inside the charm.
As people get older, some may find it troublesome to go out for hatsumode or other outings.
By making a handmade omamori, help them feel the New Year spirit at home!
shimenawa wreath
How about a New Year’s shimenawa wreath? You’ll need two sheets each of two different colors of origami paper for the wreath, plus two sheets for the straw.
Cut all sheets in half beforehand to prepare a total of eight long, narrow pieces.
Fold each wreath component one by one, then use glue to connect the parts.
Once the wreath is complete, make two straw pieces and combine them to finish! It’s a great activity to create together with seniors and make a colorful wall decoration.
gourd
Speaking of gourds (hyotan), they have long been considered lucky charms, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for descendants, and are widely cherished.
They’re a perfect item for January as we welcome the New Year.
This time, we’re introducing a video on how to make a gourd using origami.
If you firmly crease each fold as you go, the later steps will be easier.
Once the gourd is complete, drawing a ribbon at the end or wrapping a cord around it will enhance the gourd-like look.
There are quite a few folding steps, so staff should assist and fold together with the older adults.
Japanese-style wreath
We’d like to introduce a Japanese-style wreath that’s perfect to make in January.
You’ll need two sheets each of origami paper in two different colors.
First, cut the origami into quarters.
Follow the video to fold each piece, then assemble them so the colors alternate.
Combining Japanese-patterned origami with a solid, subdued color—just like in the video—creates a beautiful finish.
Because it involves fine motor work with the fingers and some thinking to assemble the pieces, it’s perfect as a recreational activity for older adults.