Simple Origami Ideas to Enjoy in Autumn (For 4-Year-Olds)
When summer ends and autumn arrives, we see a big increase in delicious seasonal foods, and there are major events like Halloween, too.
Here are some origami ideas with an autumn theme, designed for 4-year-olds.
We’re focusing on simple folds that are easy to make.
Through origami, children may broaden their interest and curiosity about seasonal foods that peak in autumn and the lives of autumn creatures.
If there are parts they don’t understand, it would be great if they could fold along with their teachers or discuss and proceed with friends—giving them chances to think and to learn the importance of helping one another.
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[For 4-year-olds] Simple origami ideas to enjoy in autumn (21–30)
Pacific saury
Let’s try folding a Pacific saury (sanma) together with a four-year-old.
Using a rectangular sheet of origami paper, we’ll create the shape with a simple folding method.
Since the folds are mostly straight lines, it’s easy for young children to try.
Adding eyes and scale patterns to the finished fish will make it look more realistic.
While folding, it’s nice to talk about how sanma is an autumn fish and where it lives.
Through origami, children may become more interested in seasonal changes and living creatures.
Why not enjoy this activity with a caregiver and feel the arrival of autumn together?
Cute squirrel
Let’s make an adorable squirrel using two sheets of origami paper.
First, fold the first sheet in half into a triangle and open it, then slightly fold the corners along the crease.
Flip it over and fold up the opposite corner as well.
Fold both side corners up toward the center.
Fold each of the two top corners inward toward the center to make the ears, and slightly fold the face and mouth areas inward to make them rounded—this completes the face.
Next, fold the second sheet in half into a triangle, open it, and fold both side corners inward to meet the center crease.
Fold the two bottom corners toward the center too.
Fold the whole piece in half, offset slightly, then tuck in the bottom corners to round the shape—this completes the body.
Finally, glue the face and body together and draw the squirrel’s face, and you’re done!
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.
Recommended for Halloween! Message Card
Speaking of autumn, it’s the season when mushrooms are delicious.
So let’s make a mushroom out of origami.
First, fold up the bottom edge of the origami paper.
Make sure the folded section and the remaining white section are the same width.
Turn the paper over and fold the left and right edges in to meet at the center.
Open the pockets on both sides and squash them into triangles, then fold the corners on both sides of each triangle inward.
To finish, fold the corners of the stem and the lower part of the cap to round them off.
It would also look cute if you draw a face on it.
Witch hat for Halloween
Here’s an idea for making a chestnut in just seven folds.
First, to create the creases, fold the origami paper in half into a square twice.
Once folded, open it with the colored side facing up.
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the center crease, then flip the paper over and fold both top corners in toward the center.
Finally, fold both bottom corners toward the center to finish.
Turn the origami to the front, and if you draw small black dots on the white part with a pen, it will look even more like a chestnut—highly recommended.
If you want a rounder shape, lightly fold the corners to the back.
Origami chestnut that folds in seven steps
Let’s make chestnuts, an autumn delicacy loved for their fluffy sweetness.
The folding steps are simple, so it’s great for kids year-round.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper, then fold the top left and right corners along the creases.
Flip it over and fold the bottom part up to about the middle to form the chestnut shape.
Fold the corners of the chestnut inward to round it out, and you’re done.
It’s also fun to try different paper colors like brown or ochre.
Making a chestnut tree together with the kids could be enjoyable, too.
Cute and easy! How to fold a persimmon (origami)
The king of nutrient-packed fruits, the persimmon, makes for origami that feels seasonal and is perfect for autumn crafts.
Prepare orange and green origami paper and let’s start folding.
On the orange paper, make creases and fold the corners toward the center.
Fold further toward the center to create the base of the persimmon.
For the last section, fold it up toward the top edge to give the persimmon a three-dimensional shape.
For the leaf part, fold it first, then make small cuts at the edges—be careful not to cut too far.
It could also be fun to turn all the persimmons everyone folded into a persimmon tree display on the wall to make it together with the children.
Cute dragonfly origami
Let’s make a red dragonfly out of origami, which you often see in November.
Prepare two sheets of origami paper and make the body and wings as separate parts.
For the body, fold the paper horizontally toward the center in half three times to shape it.
For the wings, make a crease by folding in half, then fold both sides toward the center line and round the corners by folding them in.
Finally, apply glue to the entire body piece, sandwich the wings in between, and press to attach—done! The steps are simple, so this is a recommended folding project for preschool-aged children.
Give it a try!
Cute little squirrel!
A squirrel you can make from a single sheet of origami—also great for November wall displays—is a perfect craft for preschoolers.
Fold the paper into a triangle, then fold up the left and right sides to form a cup shape.
After folding down the tip of the paper, create the squirrel’s belly.
For the tail, make horizontal snips into the flappy triangular part of the paper.
Be careful not to cut all the way through.
Draw the face to finish.
To give the tail a fluffy look, you might curl it with a ballpoint pen to add some movement.
Cute! Horsetail Origami
Let’s make a cute horsetail (tsukushi) using 15×7.5 cm origami paper.
First, place the white side of the paper facing up and fold it into a square by bringing the top and bottom edges together.
Open it once the crease is made, then fold the bottom edge up to meet the crease.
Rotate the paper 90 degrees to the right and turn it over, then fold the top and bottom edges inward to make it into thirds.
Create the hakama (pleated trousers) look by making two step folds (valley–mountain) on the white section, then fold the top and bottom inward toward the center.
At this point, it’s easier if you squash-fold the right corner into a triangle.
Finally, fold all four corners of the brown section inward, and you’re done.