[For Seniors] Day-service activities also recommended! Craft ideas for November
November, when autumn deepens and you can feel the chill in the air.
For many older adults, it’s a season when they spend less time outdoors going for walks.
So this time, we’re introducing craft activities with the theme of “11” that can be done indoors.
We’ve prepared projects featuring seasonal foods and flowers that are at their best in November.
They can be enjoyed as decorations on facility walls or taken home as interior decor.
There are also projects that can be used to play games after they’re made.
By all means, try the games together with the older adults.
Some older adults may find it difficult to sense the passage of time or the seasons.
Through November-themed crafts, let’s help them savor the season.
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[For Seniors] Day-service activities also recommended! Craft ideas for November (1–10)
Wreath of nuts and berries
How about a cute, autumn-themed wreath made with nuts and other natural materials? First, prepare a wreath base.
You can make one yourself by winding vine branches, or buy a pre-made vine wreath at a 100-yen shop.
Then use a hot glue gun to attach the nuts.
The tip of the glue gun gets very hot, so please be careful when using it.
You can also buy the nuts at a 100-yen shop.
It’s also a great idea to pick your favorites during a stroll activity! You don’t have to cover the entire wreath base—leaving some gaps here and there can look stylish, too.
Try decorating your own piece of autumn in whatever arrangement you like.
autumn leaves wreath
Let’s make a fall foliage wreath you can enjoy indoors! First, use origami paper to make lots of maple leaf shapes.
It’s best to use a variety of autumnal colors like red, yellow, and brown.
Mixing different sizes will make the piece even more fun! Next, prepare a paper plate with the center cut out, and glue the leaves on at random until it’s complete.
Add a string or ribbon to hang it on a wall or door.
Even if you can’t easily go out to see the autumn leaves, you can feel the season through this craft.
Owl of Fallen Leaves
Introducing a cute owl craft idea using fallen leaves! All you need to do is cut construction paper into an owl shape and glue on a few leaves as the wings.
It’s recommended to add a creative touch by coloring the construction paper you’ll use here.
Drip a few colors of watered-down paint onto plain white paper and blow through a straw to spread the colors.
The irregular blend of hues creates a one-of-a-kind piece.
Then cut that paper into an owl shape and put it to use! Don’t forget to draw the owl’s eyes and beak.
You can also collect the leaves during a walk or recreational outing.
Have fun making a cute owl full of originality!
[For Seniors] Day-service recreation also recommended! Craft ideas for November (11–20)
Stained-glass-style wall hanging of maple leaves
Stained glass might seem like a high hurdle, but you can create something with a similar feel using glass paint you can even buy at a 100-yen shop! If you’re looking to include it in an autumn craft activity, how about a stained-glass-style wall decoration with a maple leaf motif? Draw the outline on a clear plastic sheet using a black glass pen, then color the sections you want in the same way with glass pens.
Arrange the colors however you like! Stained glass generally looks best with combinations of deep colors, so that’s recommended.
Since we’re not using actual glass as the base, it’s a safe project for older adults to enjoy making!
Maple leaves made with tsumami-zaiku
Once you start to feel the autumn breeze, you’ll want to bring autumn-themed activities into your day-service craft sessions! How about trying handmade maple leaves using tsumami-zaiku, a traditional Japanese craft that evokes a classic aesthetic? Tsumami-zaiku is a technique passed down since the Edo period, where small pieces of fabric are folded and pinched, then combined to create shapes.
Because it involves delicate work, it can help older adults with dementia prevention and fine motor training.
It’s perfect for autumn décor and as a charming accent for accessories, making it a lovely gift as well.
Origami ‘Persimmon’
When it comes to familiar autumn flavors that ripen in the garden, persimmons come to mind! How about folding a persimmon using double-sided origami paper? It’s great for dexterity training, so it’s also recommended as an autumn recreation activity for seniors.
We’ll use double-sided paper that has light green and orange on one sheet, but if you don’t have it, you can substitute by gluing together two sheets of origami paper in different colors.
Seniors who played with origami in the past might enjoy it while reminiscing about old times.
Making lots of them to decorate the walls would look lovely, too!
Insects made only of origami
Let’s recreate a bagworm moth larva, wrapped in dead leaves and twigs as if wearing clothes, using origami.
The key point is to layer different colored papers firmly to create a colorful, three-dimensional look.
Connect two halves of origami paper in different colors, fold them in half so the colored side faces outward, and make fine slits.
Then wrap the strip around a stick-shaped core in staggered layers, spread it out, and attach facial features and other parts to finish.
Encourage focused finger work through the precision of folds and cuts, and by wrapping the paper snugly around the core.
