[For 4-5-year-olds] Folding is fun! A collection of January origami ideas to enjoy with preschoolers
The article I’d like to introduce features January origami to enjoy with preschoolers (middle year).
Since it’s January, there are ideas like mittens and snowmen—things children already know—but there might also be ideas they’ve never seen or heard of.
In those cases, it could be fun to look them up in an illustrated guide or read a book to learn more.
After deepening their understanding, trying to fold the origami can reveal a whole new kind of enjoyment! Let’s spark the curiosity and interest of middle-year preschoolers while having fun with origami!
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[For Preschoolers (Age 4-5)] Folding is Fun! A Collection of January Origami Ideas to Enjoy with Preschoolers (1–10)
plum blossoms
January is the season when plum blossoms bloom, isn’t it? Let’s fold some origami and make a plum blossom.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and fold it horizontally with the colored side facing inward.
Make a crease in the paper, then fold the lower-left corner toward the creased center.
Fold it back further to the left and right, and then fold the lower-right corner up to match the crease as well.
This is a key step, so fold carefully.
Fold both sides in a mountain fold, and on the front side—the triple-layered side—sketch a rounded half-arch.
Cut along the guideline with scissors, open it up, and your plum blossom is complete.
Give it a try!
lion dance
Let’s make a cute displayable shishimai (lion dance) with origami! Fold a red sheet of origami paper in half into a rectangle, crease it well, then open it.
Place it with the red side up and fold the bottom edge up to the crease.
Turn it vertically, flip it over, fold it in half to make a crease, then fold both the top and bottom edges toward that center crease.
Place it with the white part at the bottom, and fold the upper red section down to the middle.
Open it back up and fold it into a double-boat shape.
Tuck the corners of the lower white section inward to finish the base.
Tear some yellow origami paper to make paper “hair,” and draw the face with a pen.
Draw swirls on green origami paper, fold it slightly on a diagonal, attach the face, and you’re done!
snow rabbit
Let’s make a snow bunny with origami! First, fold a white sheet of origami paper into a triangle, then fold the left corner inward a bit larger.
Fold the right corner inward slightly smaller than the left.
Fold down the top corner a little, flip it over, and the snow bunny’s body is done! Next, let’s make leafy ears with green origami paper.
Prepare two quarter-size pieces of green origami.
Fold each into a triangle to make a crease and open it up, then fold the top and bottom edges toward the center crease.
Do the same on the left side, folding both the top and bottom toward the creases, and the ear is complete.
Attach the ears to the snow bunny, then use a red pen to draw eyes and a mouth like nanten berries, and you’re finished!
[Age 4–5] Folding is fun! A collection of January origami ideas to enjoy with preschoolers (11–20)
New Year rabbit
Recommended for preschoolers! Here’s how to fold a cute kimono-clad rabbit.
First, fold white origami paper using the Kannon fold.
With the crease running vertically, fold it in half and open it, then fold the bottom edge back up to meet the center crease.
Fold one side using the two-layer boat fold, then fold the two corners up to just short of the center line.
Fold the corners to form the ear shapes.
Turn it over, fold the bottom edge up to the center, and fold both corners up to meet the center.
Fold up the bottom corner and then fold the tip down slightly to complete the face.
Next, turn a new sheet of origami paper over and fold it into a triangle to make a crease; then slightly fold up both opposite corners.
Fold into a triangle again to set the crease, fold up the corner, and diagonally fold both corners in toward the center to complete the kimono.
Attach the face with tape to finish!
spinning top
I’ll show you how to fold a spinning top perfect for January using just one sheet of origami paper.
First, fold it in half vertically and open it.
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the center crease.
Turn it over, then fold the top edge down to meet the front bottom corner twice.
Turn it over again, fold down only the top edge, and fold it back at the front center.
Lightly fold both corners to make crease marks.
Next, fold the top corner down to the center, then fold the bottom edge up as if laying it down—and you’re done! It also looks cute on a wall display or glued onto a backing sheet in various sizes.
pine
Recommended origami for January for preschoolers! Here’s how to fold a pine tree.
First, turn the paper over and place it so a corner is facing you.
Fold the bottom corner up to meet the top corner, then fold to match the left and right corners to make crease lines.
Turn it over and fold the lower left and right edges to align with the creases.
Open it and turn it over; then fold the diagonal creases to meet the center crease.
Pinch along the creases and fold them toward the center.
Once you’ve opened it up once, refold along the creases to form the shape of a pine tree.
Fold the corners in just a little to round them, and you’re done! Add patterns with a pen.
Kagami mochi
Recommended for January! Here’s an easy kagamimochi origami perfect for preschoolers.
You can make it with just one sheet of origami paper.
First, place an orange sheet face down and fold it into a triangle twice to make crease lines.
Fold one corner upward by rolling it over twice, then fold the left and right edges to the center.
Fold up the bottom corner and tuck both corners inward.
Flip it over and fold up to the center line twice.
Fold it so that a little bit of the orange part sticks out at the top.
Fold both corners to form the shape of the mochi, adjust the shape, and you’re done!