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[Age 2] Summer Fun! Simple Origami Toys Perfect for Indoor Play
By the time children turn two, they grow rapidly in both mind and body, and their activity levels increase.
Along with that, their curiosity grows too, so you’ll start seeing them enjoy slightly unique toys.
To help them stay energetic through the hot summer, it’s reassuring to have a wider variety of indoor play options.
This time, we’re introducing ideas for easy-to-make origami toys.
We’ve gathered many ideas for toys with fun mechanisms that make kids wonder, “How does this work?”
Be sure to enjoy the movements of the toys together with your children.
[Age 2] Summer Fun! Simple Origami Toys Perfect for Indoor Play (1–10)
Hoppy Frog and Rabbit
How about making some hopping fun with a “boing-boing” frog and rabbit? Adults can put these together easily, so they’re great when you want a quick little toy.
Fold the top and bottom of the origami paper to meet the center line, then fold the left and right sides the same way to make a square.
Next, fold the left and right sides to the center line again, then fold the paper in half along the horizontal center line.
Fold it in half once more the same way, then pinch the edge and open it slightly so that, when viewed from the side, it looks like a question mark (?).
Finally, decorate it so it looks like a frog and a rabbit, and you’re done! Gently press the raised part to make them hop and play.
finger trap
How about making a “finger trap” out of origami that snaps shut when you press it? It’s a very simple toy, but it feels almost alive and you’ll want to play with it over and over.
Up to a certain point, you’ll make the same creases as when folding a crane.
Once the creases are in place, make four cuts with scissors, then fold it into a shuriken (throwing star) shape.
Fold the corners inward, raise the center along the crease lines, and it’s done.
When you press the center, the sharp points around the edge will snap at your finger!
Twirl Whistle
You know those kids’ whistle toys called blowouts? When you blow into the tube, the coiled paper bag straightens out, and when you stop blowing, it curls back.
This “Twirl Whistle” is an idea for making that blowout using origami! Make the bag part by folding a rectangular sheet of origami paper.
Cut a straw in half and insert it into the bag.
Fold in the left and right corners and tape them down so air doesn’t leak.
Once you roll up the bag part, it’s done!
Origami candy
Here’s an origami candy idea that’s exciting just to look at.
This version is a lollipop, made by connecting eight parts.
Depending on how you combine the colors—like rainbow or bi-color—you can create all kinds of candies.
If you use transparent origami paper, the see-through effect is beautiful and highly recommended! Each part only takes five folds, so adults should be able to make it quickly.
Use origami paper cut into quarters, and prepare a drink stirrer for the stick.
Nikoniko Slinky
When you think of a Slinky, you might picture a Showa-era toy, but it’s still so popular with kids that it’s sold today.
This is an idea to make a Slinky out of origami.
The smiling face on the front is super cute! Quarter-fold a 7.5 cm sheet of origami paper, make a diagonal fold across the center, then perform an inside reverse fold along that crease.
Make 36 of these parts and assemble them.
If a 2-year-old is playing, an adult should make it for them.
Hold it with both hands and try moving it up and down alternately to play!
Popsicle with a prize
Let’s make popsicles out of origami for pretend play.
In this idea, you make the stick and the ice separately.
Fold one sheet of origami paper into quarters and cut it into fourths.
Use the larger piece for the ice and the smaller one for the stick.
For the ice, fold up the bottom by about 1 cm, then fold the left and right sides inward to make thirds.
Fold the top corners inward to give it a popsicle shape.
For the stick, fold it into a long, thin strip.
You could write “winner” on the stick like a prize and turn it into a lottery, or draw faces on the popsicles to make them extra fun!
Spins round and round! A flying toy
It’s an easy-to-make toy that you’ll want to play with over and over.
First, fold the origami paper into a triangle, then roll it up tightly into a long, thin shape starting from the center.
That’s all there is to making it! To play, simply snap open the final folded tip and let go—the piece will shoot off with great speed.
The direction you unfold it affects how well it spins, so experiment and see what works best.
Once it has opened up, you can fold it back the same way and play again and again!
