Enjoy in January! Origami ideas for kids
January brings the big event of New Year’s, and many children are surely looking forward to it.
The New Year makes not only kids but also adults feel fidgety and excited.
In this article, we’ve put together origami ideas that are perfect for the New Year.
We’ll introduce easy origami ideas for children.
These are all ideas that even kids who aren’t confident with origami can enjoy, so try them together with parents or friends.
They’re also great fun when kids get bored during family or relatives’ gatherings.
Enjoy in January! Origami Ideas for Kids (1–10)
Also works as a finger puppet! Shima-enaga
The long-tailed tit, known as the “snow fairy,” lives in Hokkaido.
Its plush-like round shape and beady eyes are truly adorable.
This is an origami piece inspired by that bird.
Amazingly, it can also be used as a finger puppet—an idea kids will love.
First, fold the origami paper into a triangle, then fold the left and right corners inward so they overlap at the center.
Flip the paper top to bottom, then fold the left and right corners back to form the wings.
Fold down the top corner, which becomes the head, to round it out, and tuck the bottom triangle inward to finish.
Use a pen to draw the wing patterns and face as the final touch.
Kadomatsu
When it comes to origami perfect for New Year’s, kadomatsu is the classic choice.
Making it together as a parent and child will make preparing for the new year even more fun.
Use colorful paper to represent bamboo, pine, and plum blossoms, and create an authentic kadomatsu.
It’s easy enough for young children, so the whole family can enjoy it.
It’s also wonderful to experience traditional Japanese culture through origami.
How about getting ready to welcome the new year with a handmade kadomatsu full of warmth? It’s sure to become a lovely winter vacation memory.
Mount Fuji
New Year’s Mount Fuji origami is beautiful to look at and easy to make.
It’s a wonderful idea that people of all ages, from children to adults, can enjoy.
Combining the New Year spirit with Japan’s symbol, Mount Fuji, and expressing it through origami is truly lovely.
If the whole family makes them together, it could become a New Year keepsake.
The folding steps are simple, so even young children should be able to do it well.
It’s also great that elderly people can enjoy it together.
How about making Mount Fuji origami with everyone at your New Year gathering? It feels like welcoming the year with the fresh feeling of watching the first sunrise.
Daruma
In January during the New Year, both kids and adults can’t help getting excited, right? Origami that’s perfect for this season is the daruma doll! It’s easy to fold, so even people who aren’t good at origami or older adults can enjoy making it together.
When family and relatives gather and the kids start getting restless, how about everyone making daruma dolls? When you draw the eyes, do it while making a wish.
Display the finished daruma in your room to boost the New Year mood.
It’s a great way to enjoy using your hands, so give it a try!
ema (votive wooden plaque)
Origami with an ema theme is such a wonderful idea.
It’s perfect for creating New Year memories because you can enjoy making it together with your child.
Using colorful origami paper will make the ema look even more festive.
Younger kids can draw pictures, while those who can write can add their wishes—creating a one-of-a-kind ema.
Since it’s made with origami, it’s easy to do yet lets you experience traditional culture, which is really appealing.
It’s also great as a family activity for the New Year.
Crafts that use fine motor skills can help nurture children’s creativity and concentration, too.
mandarin orange
Origami tangerines are surprisingly easy to fold.
Just fold it into a triangle, then fold the corners along the creases, and you’re done.
Once it’s finished, you might add fine patterns with a pen—this brings out a realistic, charming look.
It’s also fun to change the size and enjoy different variations with the whole family.
They’re perfect for indoor play during the cold season, and you can even use them for New Year’s decorations.
The orange color gives off a wintery vibe, so kids are sure to love it.
When family and relatives get together, try this origami as an activity everyone can enjoy.
snowman
Origami snowmen are a fun winter activity.
They’re easy to fold, so kids and adults can enjoy making them together.
Use white paper for the body, and colored paper for the scarf and hat to create an adorable snowman.
Drawing the face is fun, too.
If the whole family makes them together, even cold days will be filled with smiles.
If there’s downtime during New Year’s gatherings, how about everyone making snowmen? Through origami, it seems like children’s concentration can improve as well.
The materials are simple and accessible, so it would likely be appreciated at children’s clubs and nursing homes, too.
Give it a try to make some fun winter memories.