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.
koma
While simply folding and playing is part of origami’s charm, when it comes to small children, isn’t it preferable to have creations they can play with after making them? That’s why I recommend this spinning top.
Although the folding is slightly challenging, if you follow the steps carefully, you’ll end up with a piece that spins smoothly like a hand spinner.
Elementary school children should be fine, but for younger kids, it’s best to make it together with them.
Be sure to check it out.
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!
menko (a traditional Japanese card-and-coin-flipping game)
Menko is a game that has long been loved by children.
The rules are simple: slam your own menko near the target menko, and if you flip it over, you win.
Some children may already play it.
This piece is based on that very menko.
Of course, you can actually use it to play, and since it uses two sheets of origami paper, it’s reasonably durable.
The method is similar to making a paper shuriken, so it’s a craft that even young children will find easy to make.
kite
Kite flying is a classic New Year’s tradition, isn’t it? You might think making a kite is difficult, but actually, it’s easy to do at home! If you use a plastic bag, even small children can have fun making one.
Use colorful tape and markers to create a one-of-a-kind kite.
The smiles on children’s faces as they look up at their kite soaring high on the wind will surely become a wonderful memory.
Making kites together is a lively, hands-on activity that deepens communication between parents and children.
It’s perfect for family time during the New Year.
lion dance
New Year’s is exciting for both children and adults.
How about trying an origami shishimai (lion dance) that everyone can enjoy? This shishimai is made by combining parts of various sizes, so the whole family can work together to create it.
With some creativity in colors and patterns, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind original shishimai! It’s perfect as a New Year’s decoration and also great for craft time at school or in the community.
Making it together as a parent and child will create wonderful memories.
Even those who aren’t confident with origami can have fun by helping one another.
Experience the warmth of handmade crafts to brighten the New Year.
Easy lease
When it comes to December traditions, Christmas wreaths are a staple.
Many children become interested when they see wreaths in December, don’t they? Girls in particular tend to show a strong interest in things like this.
That’s why I recommend this simple wreath.
You connect several pieces of origami to make a wreath, and by using washi paper with decorative patterns instead of plain origami, you can create a wreath that evokes a New Year’s atmosphere.
Such wreaths are perfect for the vibe in January as well, 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.