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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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 Activities for 4-Year-Olds! (41–50)

Cozy Penguin

Origami [Cozy Penguin] Origami Penguin

Cozy Penguin

Here’s how to fold an origami penguin that can also wear a hat and scarf.

First, fold it into a triangle twice, then open it once.

With a corner pointing down, fold up the top layer so about 2 centimeters stick out, then fold it down along the edge.

Fold the edge you just made in half to make a crease, then fold the bottom corner up to that crease to set a guideline.

Next, fold the other corner up toward the front crease.

Fold the tip of the corner down just a little.

Fold up along the crease you made earlier, align the edges, and fold the whole piece in half.

Finally, adjust the shape to look like a penguin and draw the eyes with a pen to finish.

Try making a hat and scarf for it, too!

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a round and laid-back penguin

[Cute Origami] Easy Penguin Folding Instructions (Origami no Jikan) | Origami Penguin (Easy)

a round and laid-back penguin

This is an easy and cute origami penguin.

First, turn the paper over and make two creases by folding it in half both ways into a square.

Fold one edge down to align with the center crease.

Flip it over, then fold the left and right edges to the center line.

Open the colored corner and squash-fold it.

Fold the bottom edge up to the center to make a crease, open it once, then fold the bottom tip inward along that crease.

Fold the corners to form the feet.

Fold the protruding colored corner to suggest the hands.

Finally, round off the colored tip to finish! Decorate it cutely with round stickers or a pen.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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penguin ornament

Let me introduce a cute penguin ornament that looks adorable wherever you place it.

Prepare one sheet of origami paper, a felt-tip pen, and glue, and let’s get started.

We’ll fold it using the basic crane method, but for the parts where you puff up the paper, it’s best to go slowly and provide support while folding.

Open up the origami, and while puffing it along the crease lines, tuck it in to form the penguin’s body.

Folding this section evenly will make the ornament stable when displayed.

Finish by making the wings, beak, and feet.

Even just lining them up and looking at them makes for charming penguin ornaments.

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