[Childcare] A roundup of easy summer origami ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds
As the number of hot days increases, children at daycare and kindergarten tend to spend more time playing indoors.
Here, we’ll introduce some simple origami perfect for summer that five-year-olds can enjoy.
Origami involves using the hands, which helps develop dexterity, and turning favorite things into shapes also nurtures thinking skills.
While playing, children can also learn the joy of cooperation.
Brainstorm ideas with your child and try making a variety of creations.
Spend a fun summer with the children using origami that brings a sense of coolness!
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[Childcare] A collection of easy summer origami ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds (91–100)
Fish you can make in 2 minutes
Here’s a cute fish origami that’s great for three-year-olds.
First, prepare a square sheet of origami paper.
Fold it in half along the diagonal to make a triangle.
Fold the top corner toward the center.
Fold that top part inward once more to neaten the shape.
Rotate the paper 90 degrees to the side, then fold the left and right corners back to create the tail fin.
Finally, press the whole piece to set the shape—and it’s done! It’s fun to use colorful paper and make a whole fish wall display.
Be sure to try it together with the children.
Goldfish you can make in 3 minutes
When summer comes, you feel like folding a cool-looking goldfish out of origami, don’t you? This goldfish is simple and takes about three minutes to make, so please give it a try.
The folding method is very similar to the samurai helmet (kabuto).
Instead of folding the horn parts of the kabuto, imagine folding back the part that goes over the head in the opposite direction.
After that, rotate the origami 90 degrees and fold it back the other way, then cut open and spread out the tail section.
Be careful not to cut your hands when using scissors.
Finish by drawing a cute face.
Puffy, three-dimensional goldfish
Let’s make a fun twist on the classic origami balloon! Here’s a puffy, three-dimensional goldfish idea.
All you need is one sheet of origami paper in your favorite color, a black pen, and a white pen.
It’s a unique, playful idea that makes the goldfish look adorably puffed up! Fold a balloon-like goldfish from a single sheet of paper, then use the black and white pens to draw the eyes and patterns.
It will look as if the goldfish has leapt right out of an aquarium.
This idea is sure to make anyone go “Whoa!” the moment they see the finished goldfish!
plump goldfish
Here is a three-dimensional goldfish you can make from a single sheet of origami paper.
Because it has a 3D finish, there are quite a few steps where you create creases first and then assemble, but watching a goldfish take shape from a flat sheet makes an excellent way for children to develop spatial awareness.
It’s also nice to work through the tricky parts together with a parent or guardian.
Making goldfish in different colors or adding water plants to recreate a pond or fishbowl is fun, and it would look cute pasted onto a fan as well.
Wobbling Goldfish
This goldfish origami can be moved to recreate the gentle swaying motion of swimming.
The folding process is similar to the yakko-san, pinwheel, and trick boat models up to a certain point, so it should be easy to get started.
Every part is three-dimensional, and when you move the tail fin, it looks as if the fish is actually swimming, so you can enjoy not only making it but also playing with it.
You can also make it cute by adding eyes with round stickers or a felt-tip pen.
Be sure to give it a try!
ice cream
I’ll show you how to fold a cold and tasty ice cream.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and fold it into a triangle.
Open it once, then fold the corners in so they meet the center line.
Fold the bottom corner up to overlap the top corner, then flip it over.
Fold about one quarter of the larger triangle to separate the ice cream from the cone.
Finally, flip it over and fold the tips slightly to refine the shape—your ice cream is complete! It’s also fun to use colored pens to color the flavor you like and add toppings.
Snail
Let me introduce a snail you often see when it rains.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and let’s make it.
With the colored side of the snail facing inward, fold the paper into a triangle twice.
Make sharp creases.
Open it again, then fold the corners to the creases you just made to form small triangles.
Using the existing creases as guides, fold three times toward the center.
Align with the center line to form the snail’s body, flip it over, and fold the corner on the side that isn’t yet the body toward the center.
A small pocket will form—inflate it by folding to puff it up.
Fold the top corner down in half to make the tail.
Adjust the overall shape, and you’ll have a cute little snail.