[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
- [For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter
- [For Seniors] January Craft Ideas for Day Service Activities
- [For Seniors] Try Making Your Own Kadomatsu! A roundup of ideas using origami, felt, and yarn
- 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 (31–40)
paper lantern
Here’s an introduction to a lantern you can make with just one sheet of origami paper.
Lanterns are often associated with festivals and fun events, and just seeing them can make you feel excited.
You can easily make one of these lanterns with a single sheet of origami! The folding is simple—just a few steps and you’re done.
Add some black masking tape to the top and bottom to enhance the look.
It’s very easy to fold, making it perfect for finger exercises for seniors, too.
Make lots and decorate your room!
Celebratory turtle
Let me introduce a celebratory origami turtle that’s perfect for January.
Turtles are symbols of longevity and are popular as good-luck charms, making them an ideal New Year’s motif! Follow along with this video as you fold; the instructions are very clear, so it’s easy to make.
Using gold origami paper or traditional Japanese chiyogami, like in the video, will give it a festive look.
Why not try making one together with seniors, wishing for long life as you fold?
Crane Wreath
We’d like to introduce an origami crane wreath that’s perfect as a recreational activity for seniors.
Cranes are considered lucky and are a common New Year motif.
Using origami paper with traditional Japanese patterns or bright colors makes it look wonderful! You can find a variety of origami papers at 100-yen shops.
Once you’ve prepared the paper, follow the video and start folding.
After you’ve made eight crane units, combine them to form a wreath.
If you make crisp folds for the crane’s face and wings, the finished piece will look neat and beautiful.
Give it a try and use this as a guide!
pine tree origami
When it comes to New Year’s decorations, pine is essential, isn’t it? How about making pine with origami? All you need is green origami paper.
If you have a gold marker, it will turn into an even more festive and luxurious New Year’s pine! The folding method is very simple—just follow the video and after a few folds, it’s done.
Making smaller ones to decorate ema plaques or New Year’s cards is lovely, too.
You can also stand them up for display, so there are plenty of ways to arrange them.
Try making them while enjoying the New Year’s atmosphere with older adults.
chopstick sleeve
How about making chopstick sleeves out of origami that you can use at the New Year’s table? You won’t need any difficult folds, so anyone can make them easily and quickly! The keys to this origami are to crease firmly, form it into a sleeve at the end, and finish by showing off the pattern.
Whether it’s a traditional Japanese motif or a playful design, any patterned origami paper will make a lovely chopstick sleeve.
Try using your favorite pattern to brighten up your New Year’s table.
It would also be wonderful to take on this project together as a family while preparing for the holiday!
[For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January (41–50)
Narcissus origami
This piece shows how to create a three-dimensional narcissus, which blooms beautifully in winter, using origami.
You use yellow origami to make the center of the flower, and the white on the reverse side expresses the soft color of the petals.
It’s a process that requires delicate finger movements and concentration: firmly crease in advance, then use those creases as guides to fold intricately.
If you pay attention to how you open cuts with scissors and fold with even lengths, you’ll end up with an even more beautiful narcissus.
Finally, attach leaves made from green origami to complete it—assemble while considering where on the flower the leaves emerge and how they extend outward.
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!
