[Childcare] A roundup of easy summer origami ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds

A bamboo leaf that folds in eight steps

Folds in 8 steps! Tanabata Origami: Simple and Cute Bamboo Leaf Origami (For Kids!) · Origami Leaf

Speaking of July, we have Tanabata, don’t we? In childcare facilities and the like, some may create bamboo grass decorations on the walls.

Here’s an origami idea for bamboo leaves that’s useful on such occasions and only takes eight folds.

First, fold the origami paper into a triangle to make a crease, then open it up and fold the two left edges to align with the crease.

At this point, make sure the tip is nice and sharp, and align the edges just slightly outside the crease.

Doing so will help express the leaf’s central vein.

Flip the paper over and fold the triangular section inward.

With the triangle’s base positioned at the bottom, refit the paper and fold the two bottom corners up to meet the center line.

Finally, tuck the left and right corners created in the last step slightly inward, and you’re done!

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Cute morning glory

[Origami] How to Fold a Morning Glory | Easy, no-cut method kids can do! Great for wall art and recreational activities at senior day-care centers

Let’s make colorful and cute morning glories out of origami that bloom cheerfully under the summer sun.

First, fold the origami paper in half into a square twice, then unfold it.

Next, fold all four corners toward the center, flip it over, and slightly fold in the four corners.

Flip it over again, and for each loose corner, make two diagonal folds so it forms a peak; after doing this for all four corners, open the paper.

Finally, turn the paper over, and fold the four corners you just peaked toward the center along the creases, and you’re done.

Try making lots in different colors and decorating with them!

Plump Wind Chime

[Easy ✨ Origami] How to Make a Wind Chime 🎐 Plump and 3D [Summer Wall Decoration] Sways in the Breeze for Extra Refreshment!

How about making a wind chime out of origami that captures the feeling of summer with its cool tone and a strip of paper swaying in the breeze? First, fold the origami paper in half into a square twice.

Next, draw lines on the square as if shaping flower petals, then cut along the lines with scissors.

Snip off a tiny bit in the center so there’s a small hole.

Open the paper; once it looks like a flower, gather the tips of the petals toward the center, overlap them, and glue them down.

Finally, thread a string through and attach a tanzaku (paper strip) to the string to finish.

If you thread a small bell onto the string, it will make a sound and feel even more like a wind chime.

This softly rounded, cute wind chime is perfect to make and display by your window!

Yukata Kids

Speaking of summer, you often see people going out to festivals wearing yukata.

Here’s an introduction to making “Yukata Kids” with origami.

It’s recommended to use patterned origami paper for the yukata.

The steps are simple, so fold each part carefully and assemble while checking the overall balance.

There are separate face and hair parts for a girl and a boy, so choose whichever you like and give it a try.

Adding a ribbon or other accessory on the hair makes it look more stylish, enhances the summery feel, and results in an even cuter finish.

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soft serve ice cream

[Origami] How to make soft-serve ice cream

Let me show you how to fold a soft-serve ice cream that’s perfect for hot summer days.

Prepare two sheets of origami paper to make it.

For the cone, make firm creases as you fold.

The step where you inflate the paper and flatten it might be tricky, so take your time and fold along together with gentle guidance.

Align the creases to form the cone shape, and that part is complete.

For the soft-serve top, wrap the folded paper around a pencil to curl it and set the shape—this adds more depth and makes it look more eye-catching.

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

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yo-yo

[Preschool Craft] Perfect for summer festival crafts! Easy origami yo-yo tutorial♪

Here’s an idea for making a classic summer festival game toy—a yo-yo balloon—using just one sheet of origami paper.

Fold the paper in half twice to make a smaller square, then unfold it.

Using the crease lines as guides, fold all four corners toward the center.

Next, pick one corner and fold it outward, then fold just the tip of that corner back inward once more.

Fold all four corners slightly inward to round the shape—now it’s starting to look like a yo-yo balloon.

Make small snips with scissors on the left and right sides of the folded-back section, then fold the part above the cuts inward to represent the tied mouth of the balloon.

That’s the end of the folding steps.

Finish by drawing your favorite patterns or adding stickers.

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Origami Star

Easy Origami Star Folding Method – A Fun Tanabata/Bamboo Decoration Kids Can Fold at Nursery or Kindergarten | Step-by-step, gentle audio guide on how to make it

Here’s how to make a star that’s perfect for summer wall displays or Tanabata decorations.

This time, we’ll use two pieces of origami paper, each cut into quarters.

First, fold both pieces into triangles.

Take one of them and fold it into a triangle once more.

Open the other triangle, flip it over, and fold it into a triangle again.

Fold down the top layer’s corner so that the leftmost corner is halved.

Fold the whole piece in half to create a mountain fold.

Open the pocket with your finger and flatten the fold.

Finally, layer the two pieces by inserting the remaining triangular piece between them, glue them together, and your star is complete! Try making lots of stars in different sizes and patterns and decorate with them.