Lovely childcare

[Childcare] [Origami for 4-year-olds] Introducing origami for 4-year-old children!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
10 years of experience as a nursery teacher / Kindergarten teacher / Childcare support coordinatormayumi
I studied children’s growth, development, and play, and after obtaining my childcare license, I worked as a childcare worker for over 10 years, supporting children from newborns to those about to enter elementary school. Children show us astonishing growth every day. Wanting to put into words those sparkling moments and the moving experiences I felt in childcare settings, I now work as a writer. I love seasonal crafts, wall decorations, picture books, and fingerplay. Drawing not only on my professional expertise as a childcare worker but also on the practical know-how I cultivated in the field, I strive to write articles packed with tips to bring out children’s “I want to try it!” I hope to share articles that gently lighten the hearts of parents and all those involved in childcare.

Origami for 4-year-olds is full of fun discoveries!

Here, we’ve gathered origami ideas recommended for 4-year-olds.

Using colorful paper and folding freely helps expand children’s imagination.

Working with their hands and creating together with friends also deepens communication.

Origami is a play activity that nurtures concentration and patience, and the sense of achievement when they succeed is exceptional!

In the moment they think “Let’s fold!” and start moving their hands, they can also feel the joy of creating a one-of-a-kind piece.

Be sure to incorporate it into your childcare activities.

[Childcare] [Origami for 4-Year-Olds] Introducing Origami for 4-Year-Olds! (31–40)

How to fold a banana

Origami Easy! How to Fold a Banana / Paper Banana Crafts Step by Step [Instructions]

How to fold a banana

How about making bananas out of origami—kids love them! Start by folding your rectangular paper in half, then fold it into a large triangle twice to create crease lines.

Open it up, and fold both side edges of the square inward toward the center to form a triangle.

Next, slightly shift the top part of the overlapping triangle to the right, press from the top, and crease to fix it in place.

Fold the two pointed tips on the right end over to the left.

Make sure the four tips are spaced evenly.

Finally, make small folds on all four tips.

For the top of the bunch, fold it downward first, then fold it upward so the tip sticks out—and your banana is complete! Give it a try as a summer craft project.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Swirly soft-serve ice cream

[Preschool Craft] Summer Craft! Swirly Soft-Serve Ice Cream with Origami | Origami Soft Ice Cream

Swirly soft-serve ice cream

You can make a three-dimensional soft-serve ice cream using origami.

First, let’s make the cone.

For the cone, draw a diagonal curved line on the origami paper as if drawing part of a circle, and cut along the line with scissors.

Draw crisscross lines to mimic a waffle cone, roll it into a cone shape, and secure it with clear tape.

For the soft-serve part, fold the origami paper in half twice.

When you have a small square, perform a squash fold to open it up.

Fold the opened piece in half, then twist it sideways as if rolling it.

Open it layer by layer and secure with tape, place it inside the waffle cone, and you’re done.

Raise the rankinglower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

Penguin from Sumikko Gurashi

Re: [Sumikko Gurashi Penguin Origami] Slow Version

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Perfect for summer! A penguin folded with two sheets

[Summer Origami] Easy and Cute Penguin Folding / Animal Origami Origami Penguin

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

A penguin that’s perfect for decorations

[1 sheet of origami] Penguin — How to fold an origami penguin.

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Childcare] [Origami for 4-Year-Olds] Introducing Origami Activities for 4-Year-Olds! (41–50)

Easy penguin

Here’s a cute penguin with a simple folding method that’s recommended even for three-year-olds.

Prepare one sheet of origami paper, fold it into a triangle, and make a crease.

Flip it over front and back as you go, folding the corners so they meet at the center crease.

After folding the left and right sides toward the center, fold the wing sections into triangles and puff them out a bit to add dimension.

Fold the beak so that both sides are even, then round off the corners overall with small folds to finish.

It’s also fun to try making them with different colors of origami paper.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Penguin finger puppet

[Origami] Animals - Penguin - Penguin Finger Puppet

Penguin finger puppet

Here’s how to make a 3D penguin finger puppet you can wear on your finger.

Prepare one sheet of origami paper and start by folding it into a triangle to make a crease.

Keep making creases by aligning the corners with each other.

Fold up so that the corner sticks out slightly beyond the edge, and the key is to keep folding so that the corners meet at the intersection points.

By making firm creases, you’ll give the beak and face a three-dimensional look that really brings out the penguin feel.

Finally, tuck the body area inward to puff it out slightly, and your penguin finger puppet is complete.

It can be fun to make them in different colors and play with them like a penguin family.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem