Lovely childcare

Origami Fun in Winter for One-Year-Olds! Simple ideas for tearing and sticking, too

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Winter origami fun with little fingertips.

Even one-year-olds can tear paper with a rip-rip, crumple it up, and stick it on with a pat-pat to create wonderful works.

With wintry motifs like snowmen, Santa Claus, and reindeer, children’s faces naturally light up.

Why not spend a lovely time with your kids, enjoying the fun of moving their hands and the joy of finishing a project together? Here, we’ll share easy and cute winter origami ideas you can make and display.

Winter origami play with 1-year-olds! A collection of easy ideas that also let them enjoy tearing and sticking (21–30)

A spinning top made with torn-paper collage

You can make a simple spinning top using the bottom of a milk carton.

Why not try playing with a top you made yourself, a game that’s also popular during the New Year holiday? First, cut off the bottom of a milk carton, let it dry, and paste torn pieces of washi paper onto it.

Origami made from washi is easy to handle.

Next, split the tip of a straw into four, spread it open, and stick it onto the washi-covered surface.

Decorating the straw with masking tape makes it look cute, too.

Once the glue dries, your hand-spun top is ready! It’ll be a blast to play together with everyone!

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Stylish Christmas tree

Here’s a stylish Christmas tree idea that lets you enjoy an art-like finish.

Why not make a festive item that also works as a wall decoration? Prepare origami paper in lots of colors and patterns, then cut it into long, thin strips.

The length doesn’t have to be fixed, so it’s fun to let kids tear the paper themselves.

Glue the strips onto a tree base made from construction paper, then add a star and a trunk.

Finally, use a cotton swab dipped in white paint to stamp on “snow,” and your Christmas tree is complete.

This origami idea also supports early learning by encouraging free hand movement and fine motor skills.

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A torn-paper collage wreath and an origami Santa

Why not enjoy some winter-themed origami fun with the kids? For a torn-paper wreath, kids can relish the feel of tearing paper and simply stick the pieces into a circle to finish.

The Santa is made with a simple fold, so it’s great to try together.

Using red and white origami paper will make it look just like a real Santa.

Displaying the finished creations around the room is also recommended.

Through these winter crafts, children’s creativity and fine motor skills will naturally be nurtured.

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Biri-biri Peta-peta Kagami Mochi

Kagami mochi are displayed as offerings to the gods to celebrate the New Year and pray for good fortune.

Why not try this origami craft idea that’s perfect as a New Year’s decoration? Once you’ve pasted an illustration of a sanpō (the wooden stand for kagami mochi) onto construction paper, you’re ready to begin.

Tear white paper into pieces and paste them on to represent the mochi.

If you’re using copy paper or origami paper, making small cuts in advance will make it easier to tear.

It’s also fun to add facial features, flowers, and other decorations—an origami idea perfectly suited to celebratory occasions.

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Electric Shock Demon

For a fun craft that uses origami paper and crayons and is perfect for one-year-olds, we recommend the “Rippy-Rippy Oni.” Why not make an oni-themed origami craft for Setsubun season? Tear origami paper into pieces and glue them onto a backing sheet, then draw the hair with crayons.

Add the horns and facial parts made from construction paper, and finish by stamping beans with a cotton swab.

Tearing paper and drawing freely with crayons helps train little fingers.

It’s a winter origami idea that encourages children’s free expression.

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Daruma made by sticking pieces on

This daruma origami is perfect for one-year-olds who enjoy sticking pieces of paper.

Paste a face illustration onto a sheet of construction paper cut into a daruma shape.

It’s also nice to draw facial expressions and add a bit of blush together with the children.

Finally, let them freely stick on pieces of cut chiyogami paper to finish.

It’s best for teachers or guardians to handle the cutting, and then work with the children on pasting the pieces onto the base.

This is a great origami idea for winter childcare that brings out a traditional Japanese feel.

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Easy snowman made with three sheets of origami paper

[Origami] How to make a snowman – origami snowman

Easy snowman made with three sheets of origami paper

Here’s an easy way to make a snowman using three sheets of origami paper.

It’s perfect for cozy winter days at home or for preschool and kindergarten crafts leading up to December events! Use two small sheets to make the snowman’s head and body separately, then glue them together.

Next, use a sheet that’s 1/16 the size of regular origami paper to make the snowman’s hat.

For the eyes, coloring round stickers black and sticking them on is a quick way to get a neat look.

If working with tiny origami is difficult, we recommend trying it with regular-sized sheets first!

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