Keep your seniors active and creative with fun craft workshops and classes in Petts Wood and Orpington that will help older people with memory, coordination and socialisation.
An old saying is that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Like many old sayings, it’s largely hogwash.
The truth is that you can never be too old to learn new things, and one thing that older people are constantly doing are things we typically associate with younger people, whether learning how to drive or learning how to skydive. One of the easiest and most overlooked skills older people can learn are often simple creative things, such as how to stitch blankets, bake cakes, or how to paint portraits.
As you get older it becomes even more important to keep yourself engaged, and few activities are more beneficial for this than learning a craft. Fortunately for people living in Petts Wood and Orpington, there are a large range of craft-based activities to choose from in the area.
Artisam Studio is just off the Highway in Orpington, on Repton Road in Orpington, a minute’s drive from Chelsfield train station.
Craft classes include knitting, crochet, lino-printing, painting workshops and sewing projects, with the studio running Mondays to Wednesdays.
Samantha, who runs the studio, believes that in this age of fast paced lives, its more important that ever to find some calm mindful activity to take a break from the chaos. Her art classes are an opportunity to focus and find some me-time. She feels that whatever your level, its the process of focusing on something creative that’s important rather than whether you produce a masterpiece.
Art classes are around £60-£70 for a 5 or 6 week course.
Crofton Baptist Church is located on Crofton Lane, a few minutes drive from the centre of Petts Wood. There are a number of people at Crofton who have retired from paid employment and who love to get together to do a wide variety of things. Getting involved in one of these activities is a great and fun way of getting to know other retirees at Crofton or in the surrounding area.
Crofton Baptist Church runs a Community Drop-In Knitting Club on Wednesdays, running from 2pm until 4pm on Wednesdays, during term time only.
Knitting can be beneficial in so many ways, whether it’s a chance to socialise, sharpen your knitting skills, improving cognitive function or boosting your mood. Why not give it a try!
The Clay Room offers Potter Lessons, Clay Workshops and Mould-making courses in Orpington. It is conveniently located Just off Orpington High Street, junction of church hill, Old Priory Avenue and Bark Hart Road, close to All Saint’s Church.
A timeless arts and crafts classic, pottery has long been enjoyed by people of all ages as an accessible – if not always easy – way to learn a new trade and hobby. This class is Just off Orpington High Street, junction of church hill, Old Priory Avenue and Bark Hart Road, close to All Saint’s Church.
The Clay Room UK is great for getting elderly people to work more with their hands and get the opportunity to do something creative and involving. While it does require some dexterity and coordination to do properly for some tasks, something to keep in mind, the course is welcome to people of all abilities and its main purpose is to provide a fun evening above all else.
There are various options, such as regular membership, taster classes and a new ‘make at home’ option where you can experience pottery in the comfort of your own home.
The team at The Clay Room UK guides people them through the process of pottery and related disciplines, from basic clay forming to painting and enamelling. Seniors can expect a warm and encouraging atmosphere even if they’ve never attempted pottery or ceramic crafts before.
If you have an interest in crafting, why not attend Craft With a Heart at Southborough Lane Baptist Church.
The Church is located close by to Petts Wood Library, close to St James’ RC Primary School on Southborough Lane.
Craft With a Heart is a fun evening for adults of all ages who want to use their existing skills or learn new skills to make small craft items whilst enjoying a good chat with others. There’s always something different to do each session, you can take your artwork home at the end of the session, and there are of course tea and biscuits to enjoy! It’s a very relaxed and go-at-your own pace sort of class, which makes it ideal for seniors who want something contemplative and slow-paced.
The sessions run on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, at 7:30pm.
Arts and crafts are an activity everyone and anyone can enjoy and are a fantastic way to get your seniors working with their hands and engaging in mental stimulation. Whether it’s just to keep them occupied or to provide a fun and accessible activity to help with cognitive conditions, Petts Wood in Orpington has plenty to offer for the budding artisan no matter how old they are.
Learn more about supported living with a carer, find out whether home care in Petts Wood and Orpington could be the right choice for your elderly loved ones, by getting in touch with our local team today.