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[Origami] Simple Origami Folding Ideas to Savor Spring with 5-Year-Olds
Origami is one of those activities that nurtures dexterity in the fingers and boosts concentration, positively supporting children’s healthy development.
By the time children are five, the range of things they can make with origami increases dramatically, so it’s great to incorporate an environment in childcare where they can freely create anytime.
Here, we’re sharing spring-themed origami ideas for five-year-olds.
We’ve included plenty of fun folding instructions featuring springtime flowers, insects, and seasonal foods.
Add little twists—like drawing on what you made or adding stickers—to expand the play, and make good use of these ideas for spring crafts.
[Origami] Simple Spring-Themed Origami Ideas to Enjoy with 5-Year-Olds (1–10)
Japanese bush warbler
Let’s express round shapes with origami! Here’s a warbling white-eye (uguisu) idea for you.
You’ll need light green origami paper, black round stickers, and a white pen or correction pen.
When you think of uguisu, many people imagine its “Hoo-hokekyo” song.
Its cute face and plump, rounded form are charming too! Try making your very own uguisu with origami.
The key step to achieving roundness is folding the corners of the paper inward to the back.
Focus on the movement of your fingertips as you work!
pill bug
Pill bugs are popular with kids! Here’s an idea for making one with origami.
What you’ll need: gray or black origami paper, white round stickers, and a black pen.
Pill bugs like damp places, such as under stones or fallen leaves.
They’re probably quite familiar to children, aren’t they? The key folding point is the zigzag accordion fold, shifting the paper slightly as you go.
It helps to imagine the shape of a pill bug as you make it.
Give it a try!
Fluttering butterfly
Let’s make and play! Here’s an idea for a fluttering butterfly.
All you need is one sheet of origami paper in your favorite color.
Crafts you can play with after making are always popular with kids.
Unlike a paper airplane, this butterfly twirls and flutters as it flies, which is really charming.
The steps are simple and easy to follow, but it seems there’s a trick to getting it to fly well.
Try adjusting the angle of the wings as you fly the butterfly.
Give it a try—make one and have fun!
Easy! Four-leaf clover
Clovers that appear in parks and along roadsides in spring are a favorite plant among children.
Four-leaf clovers in particular are said to bring good luck, and you may see kids searching for them.
Here is how to fold a four-leaf clover.
Fold a 7.5 cm square of origami paper in half horizontally, then fold the top and bottom along the crease.
Rotate it, fold in half again, and fold the top and bottom along the crease.
Open the pocketed sections; once it’s divided into four pockets, make small cuts, adjust the shape, and it’s done.
It’s also cute to add a ladybug made from a red round sticker.
How to fold a cute ladybug
Ladybugs are a favorite with children, and you can actually make them easily with origami.
How about decorating your room with colorful ladybugs using red, yellow, and black origami paper? First, fold twice to make crease lines forming a triangle, then fold both slanted sides along the center line.
Fold only one layer downward, and continue folding along the creases.
Once the ladybug shape is formed, color the head with a black marker and draw round spots.
Attach round stickers for the eyes, and you’re done.
If you open the wing section, there’s space to write a message, making it perfect as a gift for friends!
Four-leaf clover you can make with a single sheet!
There’s a saying that four-leaf clovers bring good luck, and they’re a popular springtime plant.
On warm days, you might see children in the fields enjoying a hunt for four-leaf clovers.
How about making a four-leaf clover out of origami? First, make diagonal creases, then insert your finger into the pocketed sections and open them up.
Fold it into a triangle and trim the edges into curves.
Next, fold the center into a triangle, open it up, and adjust the shape.
It’s very easy to make, so even children who aren’t confident with origami can give it a try.
It’s great as a lucky charm or as a decoration for your room.
How to fold a cute bush warbler
This is a spring bird, a Japanese bush warbler, made from a single sheet of origami paper.
First, fold the paper into a triangle, then unfold it once you’ve made a crease.
Next, fold the two bottom edges up to meet the crease.
Where the center overlaps, lift the corner up, then squash it down along the crease.
This becomes the bird’s wing.
From here, continue folding along the creases and edges of the paper to shape it into a bush warbler.
Once you’ve made the wings, there are no difficult steps, so go ahead and finish your charming bush warbler and enjoy a touch of spring.
