Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!

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Physical Therapist / WriterKawamura Mina
From a physical therapist to a writer, driven by the desire to travel the world with just a laptop. I’ve traveled to over 20 countries. I hope to deliver writing that many people are glad to have discovered. Thank you in advance.

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] Introducing May-themed Origami! (1–10)

Hanging ornaments

Origami Craft for Children's Day: How to Make a Hanging Koinobori Decoration — May Ornament

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.

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Koi carp streamers leaping

[Children’s Day Origami] How to fold a cute koi-nobori (carp streamer) 2 with voice commentary ☆ Origami Japanese carp streamer tutorial — decoration for the May seasonal festival

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.

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Koinobori and wisteria flowers

May decorations: carp streamers and wisteria 🎏

Koinobori and wisteria flowers

Wisteria flowers reach their best viewing time from the end of April.

You may have opportunities to go see them with older adults.

Some seniors might look forward to the purple wisteria trellises every year.

Here, we introduce wisteria—the flower that represents May—and carp streamers (koinobori) decorations.

We’ll make wisteria and koinobori out of origami.

There are some steps with fine folds, so seniors who enjoy origami are likely to have fun with this craft.

Once the wisteria and koinobori are finished, attach them to a paper plate.

If you paste a sheet with a sky pattern in the center of the plate, it will look like the koinobori are swimming in the sky.

Cutting out the center of the paper plate to make it into a wreath shape is also lovely.

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[For Seniors] Introducing Origami Related to May! (11–20)

Carp streamers made only with origami

[Children’s Day Origami] Easy and Cute Carp Streamer Folding / Koinobori, Arrow Wheel, Pole — Origami Carp Streamer

Carp streamers made only with origami

Easy prep! Here’s a koi-shaped windsock (koinobori) you can make with a single sheet of origami paper.

First, fold the paper along the diagonal to make a crease.

Open it, then fold both sides toward the center to mark the lines.

After folding to the marks, flip it over and fold the left and right corners toward the center.

Flip it over again and fold the remaining corners.

Flip once more and fold along the center line.

Make a small cut with scissors on the tail section; flip it over and fold the clipped corners.

Fold the whole piece in half, then draw or stick on eyes and scales with a pen or stickers to finish.

There are some fine steps, but using your fingers while thinking stimulates the brain and may help prevent cognitive decline.

Give it a try!

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Carp streamers with plump, scaly patterns

[Origami and Colored Construction Paper] Cute Koinobori with Puffy Scales (with Audio Commentary)

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.

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Simple kabuto (samurai helmet)

[Easy ✨ Origami] How to Make a Samurai Helmet [Children’s Day] May Doll 🎏 Sengoku Warlord-Style Kabuto ✨

Simple kabuto (samurai helmet)

Let me introduce the familiar origami samurai helmet.

It’s one of the most popular themes, so many of you may already know it.

First, fold your favorite origami paper into a triangle, then fold it in half.

Open it once, and fold inward along the crease.

Next, fold toward the top point, then fold the edges back outward.

Fold the bottom layer upward, then fold it again along the center line.

Tuck the other bottom flap inside, and in no time your helmet is complete.

Using your fingers in this way is also thought to help prevent cognitive decline, so why not try making one as a bit of brain training?

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helmet

[Children's Day Origami] Cool Kabuto (Samurai Helmet) Folding with Audio Instructions ☆ Origami Japanese Helmet Tutorial - Decoration for the May Festival

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.

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