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[Preschool] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Easy-to-make fall origami craft ideas
Autumn brings many foods at their peak, and there are fun events like moon-viewing and Halloween.
Children in daycare and kindergarten are also eagerly looking forward to the fall festivities.
So this time, we’re introducing origami ideas with an autumn theme that are perfect for 3-year-olds! Many of them are easy to make with simple steps, and we feature a variety of types—like foods and animals—so children can broaden their interests as they fold.
Find your favorite origami and enjoy the feeling of autumn indoors!
[Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Easy-to-make autumn origami craft ideas (1–10)
Pacific saury
It’s a lovely idea to feel the “appetite of autumn” by folding a Pacific saury (sanma) with origami.
First, fold the paper in half into a triangle and open it back up.
Fold both sides in toward the crease.
Next, fold the left and right sides of the saury’s body toward the center.
The width you fold will change how thick the fish is, so let the kids choose the width they like.
For the tail at the bottom, have an adult make a small cut, then fold it open to the left and right.
Finally, fold the head section toward the center, and your saury is complete! Add color, draw eyes, or put on eye stickers—have fun making all kinds of saury.
squirrel
As an autumn-themed animal, how about making a squirrel that loves nuts? It’s great as a motif for craft projects, and also recommended for helping with wall decorations.
First, fold the paper in half to make a triangle, then fold both ends toward the center as if making a paper cup.
Flip it upside down, then fold the tip of the triangle upward.
On the front, fold up the white section at the bottom, and make a small reverse fold at the tip to represent the squirrel’s belly.
On the back, make a slit along the border where it meets the body.
Please have an adult handle any scissor work.
Slightly fold both sides of the body, then fold up the part with the slit and shape it into a tail.
Have the children draw the squirrel’s facial expression!
acorn
This is a perfect acorn origami for a three-year-old who’s getting used to folding.
Fold a single sheet of origami paper in half into a triangle, open it, then fold it into a triangle again along the opposite diagonal.
Next, fold the corners up toward the center, and fold up toward the center one more time.
Flip the paper over, then fold the left and right sides toward the center, adjusting the width to form the acorn shape.
Slightly fold the corners to round them, which makes it look more like an acorn.
Let the children freely enjoy coloring it or drawing faces on it.
Cute in autumn! Foxes and raccoon dogs
Let’s make a fox and a tanuki using origami.
You can make the fox with just three folds and the tanuki with five folds.
First, for the fox, fold the origami paper into a triangle.
Place the paper so that the triangle’s point faces down, then fold both sides of the bottom point diagonally inward, aligning them just slightly outside the center line.
This way, you can form the fox’s triangular face and ears at the same time.
For the tanuki, after folding the paper into a triangle, place it with the point facing up, then fold both corners diagonally upward toward the center.
Fold the top and bottom points inward to round out the face, and you’re done.
Finish by drawing the eyes and nose with a pen.
black cat
Let’s make a classic Halloween motif—black cats—using origami.
First, fold a sheet of black origami paper in half to form a triangle.
Next, fold both ends upward so they meet the top corner.
Flip it upside down, then fold the pointed corners diagonally upward to create the cat’s ears.
Fold the left and right edges, as well as the top and bottom corners, slightly toward the center to shape the cat’s outline.
The video also introduces how to make the body, but it might be a bit complicated for three-year-olds.
Make lots of cute black cats and decorate your room!
dragonfly
Many children are familiar with dragonflies they see in autumn—chasing them or following them with their eyes while playing outside.
Here’s how to make a dragonfly with origami.
First, make the body.
Fold the paper in half into a triangle, then unfold.
Next, fold both sides toward the center crease.
Then fold the corners in toward the center.
Fold to hide any remaining white areas, and the body is complete.
Next, use a separate sheet of origami paper to make the wings.
Fold it in half into a triangle so the white side shows.
Then unfold and fold the left and right sides toward the center, leaving a small gap between them.
Flip it over, fold back the corners, and have an adult make small cuts with scissors.
Fold small sections from the cut edges to shape the wings.
Make two wings and attach them to the body to finish! Since there are many steps, it may be good to spread the project over several days.
Cute, freshly baked sweet potato
Let’s fold an autumn treat—sweet potatoes—using a single sheet of origami paper.
As you fold, be sure to make crisp creases.
By freely adjusting the angles, each person’s sweet potato will have its own unique shape, making it even more fun when you finish.
For the white areas, it’s recommended to add color using crayons or paint.
Fold in the corners to give your sweet potato a plump, rounded shape.
It could be fun to display them on an autumn-themed wall, or put them in a basket or bag and use them for pretend shopping play.
Acorn in origami
Acorns are one of the familiar parts of autumn nature for children—they find them among fallen leaves, collect lots of them, and use them for pretend play.
Let’s try expressing the autumn mood by making acorns with origami.
First, fold the origami paper in half into a square, then open it and fold the bottom edge up toward the crease.
Flip it over, fold it in half, and open it, then fold both sides in toward the crease.
Finally, fold in the four corners to resemble an acorn shape, and you’re done.
Make lots and decorate your room with them!
Ginkgo hanging ornament
Ginkgo decorations, which are very popular as autumn ornaments, add a warm touch to any room.
Prepare origami paper, string, double-sided tape, and a stapler, then let’s get started.
Fold the origami paper in half horizontally three times, aligning with the center line, then unfold it completely.
Flip the paper front and back as you make an accordion fold.
Trim the corners to create a rounded shape, fold it in half toward the center, and staple the bottom.
Finally, stick the center together with double-sided tape to finish.
Attach them to a string to make hanging garlands, or decorate walls and other spaces—have fun creating!
Origami Squirrel You Can Fold from a Single Sheet!
Here’s an idea for making a squirrel out of origami, perfect for autumn crafts.
First, fold the paper into a triangle.
Then, as if making a paper cup, fold both corners inward so they cross over and overlap.
Turn the paper upside down, and fold the corners you just made upward to create the squirrel’s ears.
Flip the paper over, and fold up one layer of the bottom corner into a triangle.
Fold a small part of that corner to the back to represent the squirrel’s white belly.
Flip the paper over again, fold up the remaining bottom corner, then make a small cut near the left edge and shape it into the tail.
Draw the body pattern and face with a pen to finish.