For Seniors: Come, Spring! Recommended March Craft Ideas for Daycare Services
In this article, we introduce March craft ideas recommended for seniors!
When it comes to March events, there are many with a cute image, like Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) and White Day.
Using lots of soft colors like pink and white in your crafts can put you in a gentle mood.
It’s the season when spring flowers begin to bloom, so let’s create a bright, festive atmosphere through crafting!
There are plenty of ideas you can use in senior day services and other elder care facilities, so please use them as a reference when making crafts together.
[For Seniors] Come, Spring! Recommended March Craft Ideas for Day Services (1–10)
Fan and Hina doll display
As a craft recreation activity for March, how about making a Hina display? This Hina display features a popular good-luck item—a folding fan—decorated with the Hina dolls (the Empress and Emperor).
Fold the dolls using origami, draw their faces, and add small accessories like a fan or a ritual scepter.
Make the fan by accordion-folding construction paper.
Finish by creating and attaching decorations such as pine or cherry blossoms.
The steps are simple and involve only a few folds, so it’s very easy for seniors as well.
Enjoy a pleasant time in a room adorned with your Hina display!
Hanging decoration of cherry blossoms in full bloom
In March, when cherry blossoms start to bloom, here’s a recommended hanging decoration.
It’s a cherry blossom mobile made with paper plates and origami.
Cut out the center of a paper plate to make a donut shape.
In the open center, attach semi-transparent origami with a cherry blossom pattern.
Next, punch out small cherry blossom shapes and stick them onto the paper plate, then hang it up.
Stringing about three together also looks beautiful.
You can also decorate the cut-out center piece by attaching the cherry blossom shapes to it.
Because it uses a lot of fine motor movements, making this craft can help stimulate the brains of older adults.
The method is simple, but using transparent origami creates a delicate look.
All the materials can be found at 100-yen shops, so preparation is easy.
Dandelion wall decoration
Many people played by making dandelion flower crowns when they were children.
Here’s a craft project that uses familiar dandelions as a motif, perfect for older adults as well.
Although this piece looks three-dimensional and very realistic, it’s actually quite easy to make.
Prepare Tant paper or colored construction paper, and wooden stir sticks.
Use green paper to make the leaves, then draw in the stems with a white colored pencil.
Fold a long strip of yellow paper in half and make fine cuts with scissors.
If any older participants are uncomfortable using scissors, staff should assist them as they go.
Roll the yellow strip up, then gently flare it outward bit by bit to form the dandelion bloom.
Arrange the stir sticks in a lattice, attach the flowers and leaves, and you’ve got a lovely wall decoration.
Cherry blossom wall decoration
When we think of spring, we think of cherry blossoms.
Let’s make a cherry blossom wall decoration so seniors can feel the arrival of spring.
Following the video, fold pink origami paper a few times, cut in two places, and unfold to reveal a cherry blossom shape.
Make smaller blossoms the same way with slightly smaller origami paper and layer them together.
Using different shades of pink—pale and deep—will look cute.
Create 3D leaves from green or light-green origami and attach them to the backing along with the blossoms.
For the centers of the cherry blossoms, use a craft punch or draw them with a pen.
Adding a few scattered petals will make it even more festive.
Why not make a cherry blossom wall decoration before the blossoms open and enjoy an early hanami indoors?
Heart wreath
You can easily make a wreath using paper plates sold at 100-yen shops.
Paper plates are lightweight, making them easy for older adults to handle and work with.
Fold a paper plate in half and cut it so that it forms a heart shape.
Then, attach flowers made from tissue paper that’s been bundled and accordion-folded onto the heart-shaped paper plate.
You’ll have an adorable heart-shaped floral wreath.
Hanging a wreath in your room will elevate the decor.
For older adults, having a room decorated with something they made themselves can also bring a sense of accomplishment.
Ohina-dama
How about some cute, plump hina ornaments? They’re easy to make without sewing, so they’re perfect for craft activities at senior care facilities.
You’ll need cardboard, origami paper, chirimen fabric scraps, cotton, and beads.
Place a small piece of cardboard in the center of a fabric scrap and layer cotton on top.
Wrap the cotton with the fabric and secure it with a rubber band.
Tuck in the rubber-banded section, and cover it by attaching a piece of construction paper with a face drawn on it.
Add a star-shaped bead to the hina doll’s head or a fan in its hand, and it’s complete.
These charming little hina balls are sure to soothe seniors’ hearts.
They’re small and don’t take up much space, too.
Give it a try!
Cherry blossom mobile
Here’s a cherry blossom mobile made from recycled materials.
The material we’ll use is toilet paper rolls.
First, flatten a roll so it forms the shape of a cherry blossom petal, then cut it into strips about 5 millimeters wide.
Next, attach tissue paper to the petal-shaped frames made from the toilet paper roll.
Trim the excess tissue paper around the frame to create clean, pretty petals.
Combine five petals to make a cherry blossom, or simply attach strings to individual petals and hang them to finish.
Through this craft activity, even older adults can feel the arrival of spring.