Origami Penguins for Ages 3 and Up: A Parent-Child Folding Guide
Here are some simple penguin origami projects you’ll want to try together with your three-year-old.
They’re all designed with easy steps so kids can enjoy making them.
Among them, the especially cute penguins with little flippers sticking out to the sides, and the round, chubby penguins will warm your heart just by looking at them.
You can paste the penguins you make onto construction paper with drawings of ice and the ocean, or display them as a parent-and-child set alongside smaller penguins.
There are lots of ways to enjoy them depending on your ideas.
Please use this as a reference and have fun!
[For ages 3 and up] Penguin Origami! A Parent-Child Friendly Folding Guide (1–10)
A cute penguin you can make with a single sheet of origami paper
Here’s a cute penguin you can make with just one sheet of origami paper—perfect for three-year-olds.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and fold it into a triangle to make a crease.
Fold the corners along the center line; you’ll be flipping the paper over to fold on both the front and back.
Next, fold the left and right sides toward the central vertical line to form the base of the penguin’s wings.
To give the wings movement and a three-dimensional look, make sure to crease firmly.
After checking that both sides are balanced, fold the tip to round out the overall shape of the penguin, and you’re done.
It might also be fun to make them in different colors and give each penguin a name.
Dancing Penguin
Here is how to fold a dancing penguin origami that lets you enjoy a variety of movements.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and some colored pens, and let’s get started.
First, make creases as you fold.
Fold the full open corners.
Using the head area as the center, shape the whole model into a box-like form, aligning it with the creases you made at the beginning.
By carefully making inside and outside reverse folds, you’ll end up with a sturdy final model.
The feet also act like springs, so fold them firmly.
Once it’s finished, draw the penguin’s face and try playing with it together with the kids.
Perfect for summer! A penguin folded with two sheets
Here’s a penguin you can make from two sheets of origami paper, featuring an adorable plump shape.
Prepare one large sheet, one smaller sheet, scissors, and glue.
First, use the smaller sheet to make the penguin’s face.
After creasing along the diagonal, fold the left and right sides in along the vertical line.
Open it up once, then fold the corners along the crease lines.
When the overall shape is folded, round the corners to finish.
Use colored pens to draw the facial expression.
For the body, fold the large sheet into a triangle, then fold the base of the body along the center crease.
When making the wings, snip slits with scissors and fold along the crease lines.
The key is to leave a wide area for the belly.
Finally, glue the face and body together to complete your penguin.
Penguin from Sumikko Gurashi
Here’s how to fold a loose and cute Sumikko Gurashi-style penguin.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper, some colored pens, and scissors.
Start by folding the origami paper into a square.
Open it once, then fold the left and right sides toward the center crease.
After making firm creases, hold the center down and fold both sides into triangles, puffing them up slightly as you go.
The key is to keep both sides symmetrical.
Make small cuts on the two layers at one tip on one side, then fold them inward.
Shape the figure, folding while letting the corners peek out a bit, and you’re done.
Use felt-tip pens to draw the face and other details—have fun creating your penguin!
Penguin made from a single sheet of origami paper
With just one sheet of origami paper, you can make an adorable penguin with little hands that pop out! Start with the colored side facing up, crease along the diagonals, and fold in order.
Then fold the head downward, flip it over, and complete the body.
Round off the head’s corners by folding them to the back, and fold the hands so they stick out to the sides and are visible from the front.
Finally, color the white beak yellow or another color, draw in the eyes, and you’re done.
You can also add a tie or buttons, or draw any patterns you like for extra fun.
A penguin that’s perfect for decorations
Let’s make a penguin out of origami—perfect as a seasonal decoration for fans or other ornaments.
Fold the paper into a triangle twice, then gently squash-fold it by inserting your finger into the pocket and pressing down softly from the top to puff it open.
Keep folding along the creases to form the penguin’s shape.
Be careful when using scissors to make the cuts—don’t cut the wrong spots.
As you continue, the paper will get thicker, but sharpening your creases will make it easier to proceed.
Once you fold the wings and feet while checking the balance, you’re done.
Give it a try!
Penguin parent and child
Here’s how to fold cute parent-and-child penguins.
First, turn the origami paper to the back and fold it into a triangle twice to make creases.
Fold one corner to align with the center line, open it, then fold along the creases two more times to set the folds.
Fold the corner up twice.
Next, fold both corners at the folded section toward the center line.
Fold the tip up to the front crease, then flip it over.
After flipping, fold the outer corners diagonally upward toward the center line.
Then, fold both corners outward so they stick out, like in the image of hands.
Finally, adjust the corners to shape them into penguins, and you’re done! If you make them with small origami paper as well, you’ll have a parent and child penguin set.
Decorate the eyes with round stickers or a pen.
