[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.
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[Age 2] Summer Fun! Simple Origami Toys Perfect for Indoor Play (1–10)
Snap camera

The snap camera has long been a popular origami toy for children.
It can’t actually take photos, but the sensation of pressing firmly and having the “shutter” pop off is a lot of fun.
You can slip a drawing inside, and when the child “takes a picture,” you can pull it out and show it to them—they’ll love it.
The basic way to make it is the same as the hakama part of the classic yakko-san model.
Cross the tips of the legs, fold them slightly, and secure them so they don’t come undone—this becomes the shutter.
It’s a simple fold, so definitely try making one and have fun playing with it.
Spinning paper toy

You’ll definitely get hooked watching it spin around and around! First, cut a 4 cm × 15 cm sheet of origami paper lengthwise into three long strips.
Fold each strip in half at the center.
Start by crossing two strips at a right angle, then thread the remaining strip through the loop created where the first two intersect at a right angle.
Pull all the ends tight to secure them, adjust the shape, and it’s done! Just drop it, and it will spin as it falls.
Try dropping it from different heights and have fun!
Infinite Cube

Have you heard of a toy called an “infinity cube”? It’s a toy made of several connected square blocks that you can freely move in various directions.
You can actually make one with origami! Just like the infinity cubes sold in stores, you make eight origami cubes and connect them with tape.
Be careful not to put the tape in the wrong places.
If you’re worried, use masking tape so you can peel it off if you make a mistake.
[Age 2] Summer Fun! Simple Origami Toys Perfect for Indoor Play (11–20)
origami cracker

An origami toy cracker that kids love! Fold the paper in half into a square twice, then squash the two puffed areas into triangles.
Fold it in the middle to make a smaller triangle, and your cracker is complete! Hold the two inner layers of the stacked triangles and slightly open the triangles on both sides outward.
Then swing it down sharply—you’ll hear a pop! It’s very easy to make, so try making one and giving it as a gift.
When playing, be careful not to pop it near your friends’ ears.
Spinning origami

Let’s make a “twirling origami” you can play with just by dropping it from a height! When you drop it, the fluttering strip-like parts spread out and it turns like a propeller, making it fun just to watch.
It can also be enjoyable to observe how the falling speed and the way it spins change depending on the drop height and the type of origami paper.
You can make two of these from a single sheet of origami paper.
The steps are very simple, so an adult can make one in about two minutes.
There is a step where you need to make cuts with scissors, so be sure to have them ready.
Pac-Pac Fish

Kids are mysteriously fond of fish, aren’t they? Fishing games are popular with children at almost any event.
Here’s an idea for a “Chompy Fish” you can make for a fish-loving child.
Like a carp streamer, its mouth opens wide, so kids can press it by hand to open and close it, or pretend to feed it small items.
For this origami, about half of the work is making crease lines.
Fold each step carefully.
Use the creases to give the fish a three-dimensional finish.
Magic Cube

The “magic cube,” which changes shape in an instant, seems like an idea that could even be used for a magic trick for toddlers.
If you show it right in front of them, the kids will surely be fascinated.
Even adults can’t tell how it works at first glance! The magic cube looks very complex, but you can make it with just a single sheet of origami paper, and once you create firm crease lines, you simply use them to fold it up into a three-dimensional shape.
It’s actually easy to make, so give it a try and surprise the kids!


