[Origami] Simple Origami Ideas to Feel the Spring with 3-Year-Olds
How about incorporating origami into a spring craft project for three-year-olds?
Around age three, children’s vocabulary grows, and more of them start showing interest in colors and shapes.
We’ve gathered plenty of spring-themed origami ideas that are perfect for three-year-olds.
There aren’t many folding steps, and the instructions are simple, so even children who aren’t used to origami can enjoy folding!
In addition to folding, there are also ideas that involve cutting with scissors.
We’re introducing lots of spring motifs that kids will be eager to make, so please use them for inspiration.
Because we regard what the children create as “artworks,” we use the term “seisaku (制作)” in the main text.
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[Origami] Simple Origami Ideas (91–100) to Feel the Spring with 3-Year-Olds
Plump, rolled-up strawberry
Three-dimensional and fun! Here’s an idea for making plump, rolled strawberries.
You’ll need red origami or washi paper cut into half-circles, green paper cut into calyx (leaf-top) shapes, glue or double-sided tape, and a black crayon or pen.
It’s a great idea for when making flat strawberries feels boring.
Draw seed patterns on the half-circle paper, roll it into a cone, attach the calyx-shaped paper, and you’ve got a three-dimensional strawberry!
Square Strawberry
Perfect for early spring when children have just entered the 3-year-old class! Here’s a fun idea for making square strawberries.
You’ll need red or pink origami paper, green crayons or colored pencils, and black crayons or colored pencils.
Some children may feel intimidated by complicated origami folds.
First, let’s enjoy folding and playing with origami together with parents or teachers in a relaxed, fun way! This idea has few steps, is simple and easy to follow, and is great as a starting point for origami.
Give it a try together!
A strawberry you can make with a basic folding method
Enjoy the different shapes that appear with different folding methods! Here are some strawberry ideas you can make with basic folds.
What you’ll need: two sheets of red origami paper, a backing sheet of construction paper, glue or double-sided tape, and crayons or colored pencils.
Origami is fascinating because you can use various folding techniques to create detailed, delicate pieces.
But even those delicate works start with the basics! This idea is recommended because it lets you learn basic triangular and square folds.
It also seems like good practice for matching your folds to the features of the motif you want to create!
Rapeseed flowers made using many small origami pieces
Rape blossoms bloom in spring along flower beds and riverbanks.
If you look closely, each blossom forms a cluster.
You can recreate that feature with origami, too.
The method is simple: just fold the four corners of the paper toward the center and you’re done.
It’s easier if you first fold the paper in half, then in half again to make crease lines.
You can make just the flower portions, but try making lots of blossoms and adding stems and leaves.
When you decorate a wall with many rape blossoms, the whole surface takes on a springtime feel.
Making a bento with origami
When the weather gets warmer, we tend to spend more time outdoors for things like field trips and picnics.
Time spent outside can be a special experience for children, different from life indoors.
One of the highlights of outings like field trips and picnics is the packed lunch, don’t you think? So here’s an introduction to making a bento using crumpled origami.
Use tissue paper to make rice balls (onigiri), and crumpled origami to make side dishes like fried chicken, broccoli, and rolled omelet.
Pack them into containers and colorful food cups sold at 100-yen shops, and your bento is complete.
A key tip is to tear black origami and stick it on as the seaweed for the onigiri.