Perfect for first-timers! A collection of origami that’s super popular with kids as young as three!
This time, we’re introducing cute origami activities for three-year-olds.
At age three, children’s vocabulary grows, and they start to manage simple back-and-forth exchanges.
In terms of development, their fine motor skills improve, and they begin to do simple self-care tasks on their own, like fastening buttons and putting on socks.
They also start to enjoy using their hands more, and you’ll often see them actively engaging in hands-on play like origami, pretend play, or connecting Plarail train sets.
We’ll be showcasing some very popular origami for children like these, so please have fun trying them out with your own creative twists!
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- Origami for 2-Year-Olds: Fun and Educational! Origami Ideas for Toddlers
- [For 3-year-olds] A fun collection of easy origami fish to make!
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- Fun Halloween Origami for 3-Year-Olds
Perfect for first-timers! A collection of origami that’s super popular with kids from age 3! (1–10)
How to fold a star
Let’s fold a cute star you can use for Tanabata or Christmas! You only need one sheet of origami paper, so pick your favorite color.
First, we’ll make the crease lines: fold it into a square twice, open it up, then fold it into a triangle twice and open it again.
From here, we’ll keep making crease lines, so be sure to fold firmly.
There are a few steps, but you can make it without glue or scissors, so give it a try! If you use foil origami paper, it sparkles and looks really beautiful.
How to fold a dog (origami)
Let me show you how to fold an origami dog that looks like you can almost hear it go “woof woof.” The steps are very simple, so you’ll want to make it again and again! First, fold your origami paper into a triangle and place it with the triangle’s point facing down.
The two corners on the sides will become the dog’s ears, so fold them down.
Finally, fold the bottom point of the triangle up a little to make the nose.
After that, use a pen or crayon to draw the eyes and nose however you like.
Dogs are familiar animals even to three-year-olds, so if you guide them by saying things like, “Now we’re making the ears!” they can imagine each part as they go, which makes the folding easier.
How to fold an angelfish
Let me show you how to fold an angelfish—an adorable, triangle-shaped paper fish.
You only need one sheet of origami paper, and there aren’t many steps, so it’s great for three-year-olds! First, fold the paper into a triangle twice to make creases, then open it up.
Next, fold it into a square twice.
Slip your hand into the pocket, press down gently from the top, and shape it into a triangle.
Flip it over and repeat on the other side.
Fold the bottom part of the triangle toward the center so the left and right edges overlap slightly—this will become the fish’s tail fin.
Turn it over, and your angelfish is complete.
Make lots and display them—they look so cute!
No worries even if it's your first time! We’ve gathered origami projects that are super popular with 3-year-olds! (11–20)
How to fold an elephant
Shall we make an elephant, a favorite animal of children and well-known from nursery rhymes? First, fold the origami paper into a triangle, crease it, and open it.
Fold the paper toward the crease so it forms a triangle.
Fold up the white triangular section, tuck it inside, and hide it from view.
Next, flip it over and fold the tip of the triangle all the way down to the bottom.
Fold both ends into triangles so they follow along the folded triangular section.
Turn it over again, bring the large triangle from before to the front, open the inside, and press lightly from above.
At this point, you’ll have large ear sections on both sides—adjust their shape, and accordion-fold the trunk to complete your elephant! Add the eyes with a pen or stickers.
How to fold a police car (origami)
When children hear the sound of a siren, they start looking for it—police cars are that popular! Here’s how to fold an origami police car.
First, crease the paper in a cross shape and open it once.
Fold the bottom half up to meet the center line.
Next, on both the left and right sides, fold down diagonally from the center, angling slightly downward.
Flip it over and fold the top section down toward the center line.
Tuck both left and right corners into the back as triangles, and you’re done! If you draw windows and a light bar, it will look even more like a police car.
Black origami makes it look realistic, but feel free to use your children’s favorite colors!
How to fold a frog
Let’s make a frog out of origami that seems to croak “ribbit, ribbit” and quack happily! We’ll use two sheets of origami paper to create the head and the body.
First, the head: fold the paper into a triangle twice to make crease lines, then unfold.
Fold into a triangle again, and fold the left and right corners inward to meet the center line.
Next, take the parts you just folded and fold each side diagonally upward about halfway.
Fold the bottom corner up toward the center of the creases.
Fold the top left and right tips down a little, and also fold down the small triangle in the center a bit.
Flip it over, and the head is done.
Now for the body: fold once into a triangle, then fold the left and right sides slightly downward at an angle to make the arms.
The body is complete.
Glue the head and body together, draw the eyes and mouth, and your frog is finished!
How to fold a crab
Here’s how to fold an origami crab that’s super popular with kids at the beach.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and round stickers: white ones and smaller black ones.
Fold the paper in half, open it, then fold it in half the other way.
Open it, place the white side up, fold it into a triangle, then open it; repeat on the other side and open it again.
With the colored side up, collapse along the creases you made to form a triangle.
Take the fluttering triangular flaps and fold them inward from the center along diagonal lines so the widths are even.
Fold down the other triangular flap as well, matching the same angle, then flip the paper over and fold about 1 cm inward.
Fold both ends upward, fold the bottom corner up, and your crab is complete! Add the round sticker eyes to finish your original crab and enjoy!
