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 (31–40)
Two ways to fold an acorn
Even when we say “acorns” as a catch-all, there are many kinds—apparently more than 20 species native to Japan alone.
In this idea, we introduce two styles: a long acorn and a round acorn.
That said, the folding method is the same for both.
With the colored side of the origami facing up, fold down the top edge.
This part becomes the acorn’s cap, so make this section narrower for a long acorn and wider for a round acorn.
After folding the cap, flip the paper over and fold the left and right edges toward the center line.
A key point here is to align only the brown section with the center line.
You want the white section to suggest the cap’s flare, so fold it while slightly opening it outward and flattening it.
After that, just fold the top and bottom corners inward to refine the shape.
Adding patterns to the cap makes it extra cute.
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!
A cute autumn tree made of origami
Let’s make a simple autumn tree using origami.
Prepare two sheets of origami paper and create separate parts for the leaves and the trunk.
For the leaves, fold into triangles and squares, pressing firmly with your fingers to set crisp creases.
Following the creases, fold everything inward as if tucking it inside.
If it’s difficult, have an adult help.
Once you shape the corners into leaf-like points, the leaf section is complete.
For the trunk, fold along the center line to create a three-dimensional shape.
Attach the leaves and trunk together to finish.
It’s also nice to use different paper colors for a more autumnal look.
Realistic fallen leaves you can make with origami!
Red, yellow, green, brown… Autumn begins with colorful foliage and is a season to enjoy leaves in many shades.
So why not make fallen leaves with origami, too? They’re great for wall decorations and a handy idea to remember.
To prepare, fold the origami paper in half top to bottom to make a rectangle, place it with the fold at the bottom, then crease diagonally from the top right corner to the bottom left corner and cut along the crease with scissors.
You’ll use the remaining triangular piece of origami paper.
Fold the top corner of the triangle down to meet the base to halve it, then repeat this same fold three more times.
Next, unfold the paper and refold it in an accordion (zigzag) pattern.
Fold the origami in half, bringing the left and right sides together, glue the inner layers, adjust the shape, and you’re done.
Origami Halloween pumpkin
Here’s an origami idea for fallen leaves that also helps kids practice using scissors.
Place the colored side up and fold the paper into a triangle.
Next, make accordion folds from the left edge in 1 cm widths.
Once the accordion folds are done, unfold back to the triangle and fold up the base diagonally so that the left side becomes thicker.
Fold the top corners outward into small triangles, then slowly open the paper.
Tuck the triangular corner tips to the back to shape it like a leaf.
Open the white section on the left edge, make a slit on the opposite side, and form the leaf stem.
After that, add small cuts or folds as you like to give it the look of a fallen leaf.
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.
Autumn origami acorn
Let’s make an acorn with a hat using two sheets of origami paper.
Use a 15 × 7.5 cm sheet for the acorn and a 7.5 cm square for the hat.
First, we’ll make the acorn.
Fold the paper in half to make a square, then fold the top, bottom, and left corners toward the center—done.
Next, we’ll make the hat.
Fold the paper into a triangle twice to create creases.
Fold the bottom corner up to the center, then fold up along the crease to form a triangle.
Turn the paper over and fold the top corner down so it sticks out slightly below the base of the triangle.
Tuck both corners inward, then place it over the acorn you just made.
Autumn Origami! How to Fold a Mushroom
Prepare two sheets of origami paper, round stickers, and glue to make a cute, original mushroom.
We’ll create it in two parts: the cap and the stem.
For the cap, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold the corners to shape it like a mushroom cap.
For the stem, make a triangular crease, then fold the left and right corners toward the center twice.
Tuck the tip into the crease, adjust the shape, and round it out to complete the stem.
Glue the cap and stem together, add the round stickers, and enjoy making your own original mushroom!
A self-standing pine cone!
A three-dimensional pine cone that’s perfect for autumn decorations can be made by gluing together several parts.
Prepare four pieces cut from a single sheet of origami paper divided into quarters.
Fold each piece into a triangle, then fold both sides up at positions set slightly away from the center line.
Open it up and fold the triangular tip to create a part.
Make four identical parts, then glue them together to form the shape of a pine cone.
The key is to glue them while checking the balance and width.
Give this three-dimensional, autumn-inspired pine cone a try!
Easy and cute way to fold an apple (origami)
Let’s make a fall favorite—an apple—using two sheets of origami paper.
Use one sheet for the fruit and the other for the stem.
Fold the paper for the fruit in half twice to make a small square, then open it back up once the creases are set.
Fold the top edge down to meet the horizontal center crease, and fold the bottom left and right corners in toward the center of the paper.
Fold both top corners into small triangles, then tuck in the left, right, and bottom corners to round the overall shape.
Cut a slit at the top center, then open the cut section to the left and right and fold them down.
The fruit is complete.
Next, use a small piece of origami paper to make the stem.
Fold the paper in half by matching the top and bottom edges, then start at the bottom right corner and fold diagonally, rolling it into a narrow strip.
Secure it with glue so it doesn’t come undone, and the stem is finished.
Attach it into the slit you made, and your cute apple is ready!