[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!
Origami is a popular recreational activity in senior care facilities.
Finger exercises are effective for stimulating the brain, and displaying completed pieces or feeling a sense of accomplishment adds to the enjoyment.
May is a month filled with events, such as Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.
So this time, we’ll introduce origami with a May theme.
Origami that activates both the fingers and the brain while feeling the season—and offers a sense of achievement—can be considered an ideal recreation for older adults.
By all means, try making May-themed origami together with the older adults around you.
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May: A Collection of Seasonal Craft and Wall Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Celebrate Children's Day: Make Your Own Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
- [For Seniors] Recommended Events for May: A Roundup of Ideas That Get Everyone Engaged
- [For Seniors] May-Themed Wall Decoration Ideas Full of Seasonal Flair
- [For Seniors] May Calendar Craft: Fun and Easy
- [Recreation] Summary of Recommended Origami Ideas for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Fun Origami That Also Works as Rehabilitation
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Something New Every Day! Today’s Origami
- [Easy!] Flower paper-cut art you can make using just scissors
- [For Seniors] Enjoy at Day Service: A Roundup of May Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Perfect for June: Introducing simple origami projects
- Simple origami that can be folded from a single sheet
- [For Seniors] Enjoy May! Recommended Recreational Activities and Games
[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami! (1–10)
Hanging ornaments
Here’s a hanging carp streamer decoration that moves in the wind.
Cut washi-patterned origami paper into thin strips and glue them vertically in a long shape.
Fold the top edge and wrap a short piece of straw with it.
Thread a string through the straw to create the base for the hanging decoration.
Attach origami carp streamers to the base.
Next, stick masking tape to the tip of a pair of disposable chopsticks and use the chopsticks as an axis to connect two straws.
Then cut a piece of cardboard to match the size of the bottom of your container.
Make slits in the center and around the edge, insert a straw into the center slit, place it in the container, and add a weight—this will support the decoration.
Hook the hanging decoration onto the grooves of the straw, insert a pinwheel into the drinking end, and your hanging decoration is complete.
It’s delightful to watch it move in the wind.
Koi carp streamers leaping
When you think of koinobori, many of you probably picture them swimming energetically across the sky.
This time, we’ll introduce an origami koinobori craft with a lively, dynamic look.
You’ll make the body and head using two sheets of origami paper.
The finished piece looks as if it’s leaping, just like a real koinobori.
Using patterned paper enhances the koinobori’s feel even more.
For older adults, making koinobori may bring back memories of Children’s Day and the Boys’ Festival.
Once finished, you can attach a stick to make a tabletop koinobori, or paste it onto a wreath for display—there are many ways to enjoy your creation.
helmet
Speaking of kabuto (samurai helmets), there’s a classic folding method that even children can make, but in this idea, you create the kabuto body and a stag beetle separately with different sheets of origami, then glue them together at the end.
You can make an authentic kabuto with fukikaeshi (the turned-up side flaps) like those worn by traditional Boys’ Day dolls, with a quality so high you wouldn’t think it’s origami at first glance.
Although there are a few more steps, I encourage you to give it a try using larger origami paper.
Since this idea includes a step where you make cuts, please have a pair of scissors ready.
[For Seniors] Introducing Origami Related to May! (11–20)
Carp streamers with plump, scaly patterns
Here’s a carp streamer decoration you can display and enjoy indoors at your facility.
Many places change their wall decorations each month, don’t they? Some older adults seem to feel the changing seasons through wall decorations that reflect events or festivals representative of each month.
Seeing carp streamer decorations may remind seniors of Children’s Day and Tango no Sekku in May.
Carp streamers with charmingly plump scales are fun not only to make but also just to look at.
The scales, made with two sheets of origami paper, aren’t difficult to create, so many older adults should be able to make them.
Looking at the wonderful carp streamer they made themselves can also give them a sense of accomplishment.
Iris
Let’s fold an iris flower with origami.
For the flower part, use 7.5 cm origami paper.
First, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold the left and right corners up to the top corner to make crease lines and open it back up.
Next, fold the lower left and right edges up along the diagonal creases you just made, then open them again.
Using the two diagonal crease lines, open the left and right corners and squash-fold them, then flip the paper over.
Fold down only the top layer of the top corner, then fold it back up so that it sits slightly above the previous crease.
Make a cut about 1 cm from the top corner of the folded-back section, and fold the two split tips diagonally downward to complete the flower.
Finally, make the stem and leaves by accordion-folding a strip of origami paper, and attach them to the flower.
Your iris is complete!
Parallel arrangement of tulips
When you think of spring flowers, many people probably picture tulips.
This time, we’re introducing a three-dimensional tulip craft.
Three-dimensional origami may sound difficult, but there aren’t many intricate steps, so it might actually be easy for many older adults to make.
Folding these cute tulips could also spark lively conversation among seniors and those around them.
By the way, a “parallel arrangement” is a style of floral design where plants are placed upright in parallel, evoking the image of them standing in a row.
Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)
Let’s try making small gift envelopes shaped like carp streamers (koinobori).
In many older adults’ homes, some may still raise koinobori or display samurai helmets for Boys’ Day in May.
Since Boys’ Day and Children’s Day fall during Golden Week, your grandchildren or relatives’ children might gather as well.
At such times, it’s nice to tuck a gift into a handmade koinobori envelope and give it to them.
The steps for making these envelopes aren’t complicated, so they should be easy for older adults to create.
Plus, you can thread a string through the handmade envelopes to turn them into a garland, making them useful as indoor decorations too.