Fun spring craft ideas using origami to make with your one-year-old!
A warm and sunny spring.
Many teachers are probably thinking, “I want to enjoy spring-themed crafts with the children!” So this time, we’re introducing craft ideas using origami for one-year-olds.
In addition to folding, we’ve packed in ideas that stimulate children’s senses by letting them rip paper, stick pieces on, and use their fingers in lots of ways.
We’ve gathered plenty of spring motifs that are familiar to children, such as tulips, cherry blossoms, ladybugs, and butterflies! Please use these as a reference and enjoy making cute spring crafts together.
Because the children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “制作” (seisaku: production/work) in the text.
Fun spring crafts to make with 1-year-olds! Origami-based activity ideas (1–10)
Perfectly round and cute! Dandelion paper cutoutNEW!
It’s a lovely idea to make spring-like dandelion paper cutouts and decorate your walls or windows to create a sense of the season.
Fold an origami sheet in half into a square twice, then fold it into a triangle.
Open the tip of the triangle outward and fold it into a triangle again, then draw the cutting lines with a pencil.
Cut along the lines with scissors, gently unfold, and shape the petals so they stand up slightly to finish.
It’s recommended to make deeper cuts without cutting too far through.
You can also add white fluff using cotton to create spring-like dandelions.
A butterfly you can make with just two folds
Let’s make a butterfly out of origami that only takes two folds! First, prepare one sheet of origami paper and fold it into a triangle.
Next, fold it again to make another triangle, overlapping the paper but offsetting the corners slightly to create a V shape.
And that’s it—the butterfly is complete! It looks like a butterfly seen from the side as it flutters its wings.
If you draw patterns on the wings or add antennae, it will look even more like a butterfly.
Even if the corners are a bit misaligned, it still looks clearly like a butterfly, so give it a try with one-year-olds.
[Torn Paper Art] Fluttering Butterfly
![[Torn Paper Art] Fluttering Butterfly](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kSX1hih8xKk/sddefault.jpg)
Let’s make a cute butterfly using construction paper.
First, fold the paper in half, then add creases about 1 centimeter to the left and right of the main crease.
When you do this, make sure the center crease is a mountain fold.
Return the paper to the folded-in-half position and cut out a butterfly shape.
The part with the mountain fold will be the butterfly’s body, so make two horizontal slits in that area.
Finally, tear some colored origami paper and paste it onto the wings to create patterns, add the antennae, and you’re done.
Prepare several colors of origami paper to make a bright, decorative pattern.
Cherry blossom petals made with a heart and rolled origami
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwOgAMPR2K/How about “tissue-paper cherry blossom petals” as a craft idea to try with childcare workers or kindergarten teachers? First, let’s get prepared.
Cut construction paper into rectangles, roll each into a heart shape, and secure it with glue.
Next, arrange them on a clear file so they look like petals, and glue them down.
Once they’re dry, you’re ready.
Hand it over to the kids from here—have them stuff tissue paper into the paper hearts, and it’s done.
If you prepare tissue paper in multiple colors, it will turn out even cuter.
A caterpillar made by rolling up origami
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbUk5RdN1DX/Let’s make a caterpillar out of origami inspired by the beloved picture book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”! The method is super simple: roll up pieces of origami paper and stick them onto a leaf-shaped base.
You can put double-sided tape on the base in advance and attach the origami to it, or, if the children can pinch and handle tape, cut the tape into small pieces and let them stick it onto the rolled parts themselves.
Feel free to add your own touches—draw the eyes, antennae, legs, and mouth, or fill the area around the caterpillar with flowers.
