[For 1-year-olds] Play with your child! Easy summer origami ideas
Curious and full of wonder, one-year-olds are fascinated by everything around them.
In summer, the heat often keeps us indoors.
At times like that, why not make toys out of origami and play together with your child? Origami toys provide fun stimulation for little ones and are safe to play with, which is a big plus.
Here, we’ve gathered ideas for origami toys that adults can easily make for one-year-olds.
Use these ideas to expand your indoor play options.
Have fun playing and enjoy the summer together with your child!
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[Age 1] Play with your child! Easy summer origami ideas (21–30)
Origami Slinky

A Slinky is a spring-shaped toy that originated in the United States.
Many of you may remember playing with one as a child.
Let’s make a Slinky out of origami and have some fun! This version uses a total of 60 sheets of origami paper—six sheets each of ten different colors.
The more sheets you use, the more you can enjoy the springy stretching and contracting motion and the ever-changing colors, so be patient and make plenty.
We recommend using 7.5 cm × 7.5 cm sheets and a thicker paper.
Unlike plastic or metal Slinkies, this origami version is less likely to get tangled, so you can play with it over and over stress-free.
You can just imagine how excited the kids will be!
origami ribbon

How about making an irresistibly cute ribbon out of origami? You can easily make one with a single sheet of paper, so it’s perfect when you’re running out of ideas for at-home play.
Kids can wear them in their hair or on their clothes, attach them to dolls, use them for pretend shop play—the possibilities are endless! They’re also great for costumes in school performances and for birthday decorations.
Try using origami with different patterns and textures to create a ribbon that makes your heart flutter.
Colorful ice play with pom-poms
Have fun without using colored water! Here’s a colorful ice play idea using pom-poms.
It’s easy to try because you can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop.
This time, let’s use a round ice tray and colorful decorative balls to enjoy some cool, playful ice activities.
Just put the decorative balls and water into the round ice tray, freeze it, and you’re done! You can play by touching the ice as is, or enjoy watching it melt in the bath.
Try out different ways to play.
origami balloon

Here’s how to make a cute, round-looking origami balloon.
Many of you probably made these when you were little.
First, fold the origami paper into a square one-quarter the original size, then open the square and fold it into a triangle.
Fold both side corners of the triangle up to meet the top corner.
Flip it over and repeat the same steps to form a square.
Finally, fold the corners on both sides of the square toward the center, then tuck in the side corners of the previous triangles, and you’re done.
Blow air through the hole to inflate it.
If you inflate it in front of children, they’ll be thrilled! Try bouncing it on your palm and playing together.
It also sounds fun to make a bigger one using large origami paper.
Rolling little star

How about making a bouncing, rolling “Korokoro Star” with an irresistibly cute motion and playing with it together with the kids? Since the instructions are advanced and quite challenging, please have an adult do the crafting.
The star’s unique, addictive movement is sure to captivate children.
It’s also a great activity to include during Tanabata or the Christmas season.
If you use glittery origami paper, it’s perfect for displaying or hanging in your room after playtime.
Give it a try and have fun together!
Spiral Cube

A mysterious toy that will have kids glued to it, wondering “What’s going on?”—the Spiral Cube! Believe it or not, you can make it with origami.
The steps are a bit challenging for a one-year-old, so have an adult give it a try.
When opening the cube, you need to grasp it with your fingers and twist your wrist, making it perfect for developing children’s fine motor skills.
Once they get used to moving it, you can keep adding length to make it longer and longer.
If you use transparent origami or paper with different patterns and colors, it’s sure to become an even more captivating toy for kids.
Give it a try!
Origami propeller

Perfect for kids who love airplanes and helicopters! Here’s an origami propeller toy that’s fun to watch as it spins and falls.
It’s also nice that you can make it with just one sheet of origami paper.
The folding steps are complex and challenging for children, so adults should give it a try.
Colorful or patterned origami works great, and for outdoor play we recommend shiny, reflective paper.
Sunlight reflecting off the spinning propeller looks beautiful.
It’s fascinating to watch the propeller fall while rotating, whether you look from above or below.
It’s a toy full of excitement that will have kids saying, “Again!”



