Easy Winter-Themed Origami Ideas for 5-Year-Olds
Origami is a big hit for recreation.
It’s perfect for free folding to spark imagination, and the fine finger movements help develop dexterity and concentration.
In this article, we introduce winter-themed origami designs and how to make them, tailored for five-year-olds.
Let’s fold winter events like Christmas, New Year’s, and Setsubun, as well as winter foods, animals, and seasonal motifs with origami.
Kids can even use the origami they fold to make Christmas ornaments.
Enjoy it as an indoor recreational activity during the cold season.
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[For 5-year-olds] Simple Winter-Themed Origami Ideas (41–50)
Cute for Christmas! Santa Claus
Combine three parts—face, body, and hat—to make Santa Claus.
Align one corner to the center and crease, then align the corner to that crease and crease again.
Fold the corner along the second crease, turn the paper over, and fold the remaining three corners to the center.
Fold both corners of the one triangle that’s a different color toward the center, then fold the opposite edge to the center of the diamond.
Fold both ends of the rectangular section inward, then fold all four corners into triangles to complete the face.
For the body, fold the left and right edges to meet in the middle, then fold the two top corners that meet in the center back outward about 1 cm—these will be Santa’s hands.
Fold the top and bottom edges to meet in the middle to make a square, then squash the top pocket to form a boat shape.
Use mountain-and-valley folds on both the boat section and the remaining lower section to create the arms and legs.
Make the hat by folding a small piece of origami paper about 10 times.
Glue the three parts together and you’re done!
[For 5-year-olds] Easy Winter-Themed Origami Ideas (51–60)
Colon and a cute reindeer
Turn the origami paper to the back and crease it in half.
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the crease.
Shift the crease by folding the edge to align with the fold line.
Fold the left and right sides to meet the center line.
Fold the white section down to the edge.
After folding up both bottom corners of the white section, pull them upward.
Next, squash-fold so that the creases land on the corners.
Fold the edges with the image of reindeer antlers in mind.
Finally, fold the left and right sides diagonally so they cross slightly at the center, letting the “horns” peek out a bit, to form the body—and you’re done! Use round stickers or a pen to draw a cute face.
Great for scissor practice too! A three-dimensional star
This is a method for making a three-dimensional star by cutting slits into a pentagon-shaped sheet of construction paper and using folds to add dimension.
First, turn a square sheet of construction paper into a pentagon.
Fold the paper in half horizontally to make a rectangle, then fold the two left corners down to meet the top and bottom edges to create triangular folds and make crease lines.
Once you have an X-shaped set of creases, fold the right half of the bottom edge up along the line at the lower right.
Flip the paper over, and use the creases to fold up the remaining section of the bottom edge.
Fold the paper in half so the left and right shapes overlap, then cut the top at a diagonal.
When you unfold it, the paper will be a pentagon.
Make slits along all the creases except the diagonal ones, and fold to form a star shape—done! Add a string to turn it into an ornament.
Perfect as a decoration! The Chimney House
Here’s a cute way to fold a little house that also works as an ornament.
First, place the origami paper colored side up and fold it in half into a square twice to make crease lines.
Fold both top corners toward the center to make creases.
After folding the corners, fold the edges to the crease lines twice.
Fold up the bottom edge just a little.
Next, turn it over and fold the left and right sides to the center.
Fold the right corner up to the top crease.
Fold the left edge inward along the crease.
Finally, fold the bottom section up to meet the center crease.
Glue it in place, and you’re done!
Penguin parent and child
Here’s how to fold cute parent-and-child penguins.
First, turn the origami paper to the back and fold it into a triangle twice to make creases.
Fold one corner to align with the center line, open it, then fold along the creases two more times to set the folds.
Fold the corner up twice.
Next, fold both corners at the folded section toward the center line.
Fold the tip up to the front crease, then flip it over.
After flipping, fold the outer corners diagonally upward toward the center line.
Then, fold both corners outward so they stick out, like in the image of hands.
Finally, adjust the corners to shape them into penguins, and you’re done! If you make them with small origami paper as well, you’ll have a parent and child penguin set.
Decorate the eyes with round stickers or a pen.
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!
Peekaboo Penguin
Here’s a super cute way to fold a penguin that’s perfect to attach to letters or cards! First, place the origami paper with the back side facing up and fold it into a triangle twice to make crease lines.
Lift one corner up to just slightly before the center line, then fold both edges of the lifted section upward at a slight diagonal.
Fold both corners of that folded section inward.
Turn it over so the white side is facing you, and fold along the center line twice to shape the face.
Next, use a 2.5 cm piece of origami paper to make the hands.
Start with a basic “zabuton” fold, then fold both corners diagonally to shape the hands.
Make two of these.
Finally, glue the hands on, and add eyes and a mouth with round stickers or similar—done!