[Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October
Autumn is full of delicious foods and is a comfortable season to spend time in, so it’s easy to make progress with your hobbies.
Many seniors may also be looking forward to enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves.
In this article, we introduce recommended craft ideas for October.
We’ve gathered many ideas, including decorations themed on maple leaves—the quintessential symbol of autumn—pumpkin decorations perfect for Halloween, stylish pieces that can be displayed as interior decor, and craft ideas useful for recreational activities at day service centers.
If you’d like, give them a try!
- For Seniors: Easy Crafts Recommended for October
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- Recommended November craft ideas for day service centers
- Useful in care facilities! Ideas for autumn wall decorations
- [For Seniors] Simple crafts that feel like autumn: a fun creative activity
- [For Seniors] Let’s Get Excited with Halloween Crafts! Fun and Easy Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Fall Wall Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended for September! Craft Idea Collection
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- [For Seniors] Autumn Origami to Enjoy in October
- [For Senior Care Facilities] Easy! September Craft Ideas to Feel the Autumn Season
- [For Senior Care Facilities] Feel the Autumn! Collection of Maple Leaf Wall Decoration Ideas
[Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October (1–10)
Cosmos decorations made of paper tape
Cosmos flowers are often mentioned as iconic autumn plants, aren’t they? Written as “autumn cherry blossoms” in kanji, cosmos are known for their delicate, cherry blossom–like pale pink color.
Let’s try making cosmos using paper tape! It’s great for making in large groups, so why not include it in a craft activity at your day service? Prepare plenty of paper tape pieces cut with pinking shears, combine four pieces, staple the center to fix them, and place a yellow round sticker in the middle—one cosmos flower is complete! You can easily make leaves using pipe cleaners.
Let’s all work together to fill the autumn wall display with cosmos!
Fallen Leaves Bookmark
These bookmarks, inspired by fallen leaves, will make you look forward to autumn reading! Using felt gives them a warm, cozy feel, and they’d make wonderful gifts.
Simply cut two leaf shapes—such as maple or ginkgo—from felt, apply glue to one piece, place a string in between, and fix the second piece on top.
It’s also lovely to design leaves on both ends of the string.
Felt doesn’t require finishing thread ends and is easy to work with, so why not incorporate this project into a craft activity at your day service?
Cutout painting
This is a cutout painting that lets you fully experience autumn by touching fallen leaves.
First, sketch an autumn-themed motif on drawing paper and cut it out with scissors or a craft knife.
Next, glue fallen leaves onto another sheet of drawing paper.
Finally, layer the cutout sheet on top, glue it down, and let it dry—that’s it! Display it in a frame to add an accent to your interior.
If you enjoy working with natural materials or are good at detailed handiwork, give it a try.
[Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October (11–20)
Maple leaf ornament featuring a folding fan motif
This is a maple-leaf ornament inspired by a folding fan that instantly brings autumn colors to your entryway or living room.
First, cut origami paper to make maple leaves.
If smaller origami is hard to work with, feel free to use larger sheets.
Next, roll several pieces of origami into sticks, arrange them into a fan shape, and secure them.
Finally, arrange the paper-made branches and maple leaves, and you’re done! You can also make a stand for the fan out of origami, so be sure to craft one and display your fan.
Choose your favorite color palette to show off your personality!
Colored maple leaf shikishi (decorative square paper)
How about making a handmade shikishi board with an autumn foliage theme? First, draw some branches on the board in advance.
You can draw the maple leaves with a brush pen or marker, or use printed templates—either is fine.
Next, color them with care to capture the beautiful hues of the maples.
To make them look more realistic, add gradations to the leaves.
Finally, arrange the colored leaves on the branches and glue them in place.
A helpful tip is to apply glue only at the base of each leaf.
If you’re not confident in drawing, you can also cut maple leaves out of origami or construction paper.
Enjoy this special time of welcoming autumn through the crafting process.
A mobile of apples and pears
Making mobiles with autumn fruits—apples and pears—is an easy, enjoyable craft that also stimulates the senses and creates a pleasant time for older adults.
By using templates cut from construction paper in the shapes of apples and pears, you can make multiple identical pieces and glue them together in layers.
Use wood glue along the creases; there’s no need to worry if a little squeezes out.
Add fun variations like spiral apple peels, or change the colors and sizes to suit your style.
Because the pieces can stand on their own, they work as small objects, or you can hang them as mobiles to decorate windows or entryways—there are many ways to enjoy this idea.
Halloween wreath
Autumn is the perfect season to enjoy Halloween, isn’t it? How about making Halloween wreaths together with seniors? If you attach Halloween-themed motifs to a wreath base made of origami, you can easily create a lovely wreath! It’s fun to make motifs like bats, ghosts, and pumpkins out of origami.
The steps of cutting and rolling the paper help train fine motor skills and stimulate the brain, which can be effective for dementia prevention, too! Halloween is often thought of as a children’s event, but adults can certainly enjoy it as well.