Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!

[For Seniors] Introducing May-themed Origami!

Last updated:2025/6/16

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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)

butterfly

[3-Minute Origami] Cute! How to Fold a Butterfly — Recommended for Kids

butterfly

In May, when warm days continue, you’ll often see new buds opening and flowers blooming.

You may also spot butterflies flitting around flower beds in fields and parks.

Let’s make spring-heralding butterflies with origami.

We’ll create a butterfly by combining two sheets folded in an accordion (fan) style.

By adjusting the folding method, you can make the reverse side look like a pattern on the butterfly.

The steps are simple, so many older adults should find it approachable.

And as they work, they can also enjoy the feeling of spring.

Once finished, try hanging them up or decorating a wall with them.

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Kintaro

[Children’s Day Origami] Easy! Cute Kintaro Folding Instructions / Origami Koinobori

Kintaro

On Children’s Day in May, many households display Kintaro dolls.

They are put up with the wish that children will grow up kind and lively like Kintaro.

So for a May origami craft, let’s try folding Kintaro.

If you fold the face, hair, and body with separate sheets of origami paper, you can create a piece that looks just like the real Kintaro.

The folds aren’t very complicated and are simple enough that older adults may also find this project easy to do.

Adding an origami carp streamer to the finished piece or mounting it on a backing board for display will make it look wonderful.

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kashiwa mochi (oak leaf-wrapped rice cake)

[Craft Idea] Kashiwa-mochi — Rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves (Children’s Day / May) (Senior activities) (Early childhood education) (Wall decoration) (Crafts) (Creative) (Origami)

kashiwa mochi (oak leaf-wrapped rice cake)

Let me introduce how to make kashiwa-mochi with origami.

All you need is white and green origami paper, so prep is super easy.

First, crumple up the green paper into a ball and open it.

Apply glue and fold it in half.

Cut it into the shape of an oak leaf, then fold diagonally to create the veins.

Next, crumple the white paper.

Shape it so it’s a size that can be wrapped by the oak leaf.

Once the size and position are set, put double-sided tape on the oak leaf and attach it.

In no time, your kashiwa-mochi is done.

It’s cute as is, but making a tray with double-sided origami paper will make it look even nicer.

Give it a try!

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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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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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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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clover

(Origami / copy paper) Easy! How to make a clover [DIY]

clover

Here’s how to make an easy and cute clover.

A craft punch that cuts paper into heart shapes makes it go faster, but you can use scissors too.

Prepare two sheets of green paper—one dark and one light—and cut out heart shapes.

Layer the leaves with a piece of wire sandwiched between them, and glue them together.

Make several of these.

Bend the leaves, bundle them, and wrap them with green floral tape to form three-leaf or four-leaf clovers.

Pour pebbles or beads into a small container and insert the clovers to enjoy them like houseplants.

Since it’s safe to make, it’s also recommended as a recreation activity in senior facilities.

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