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.
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Enjoy in January! Origami Ideas for Kids (1–10)
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.
Enjoy in January! Origami Ideas for Kids (11–20)
kagami mochi (traditional Japanese New Year rice cake decoration)
When it comes to New Year’s origami, kagami mochi is a classic.
This design is easy enough for even small children to fold.
It’s perfect for passing the time over winter break and for enjoying together when the whole family gathers.
Since it doesn’t use scissors or glue, it’s safe and lets all generations join in with peace of mind.
Make it with colorful origami paper and it’s sure to bring a smile every time you see it.
Hang the finished kagami mochi on the wall to feel the arrival of the new year.
It creates a festive New Year’s atmosphere, and the kids are sure to love it.
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.
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.
mumps
Speaking of New Year’s, Otahuku (the “Otafuku” smiling lady) is a classic, isn’t it? This piece is an origami project that creates just the base of the Otafuku—the face and hair.
After that, you can draw the face or cut out red paper into circles and paste them on.
If you want to have fun with children, it’s also great to prepare the parts and play fukuwarai.
If you’re making the parts, scissors will be used, so please be extremely careful when working with small children.
It might be a good idea to divide roles—have the child make the base and the parent make the parts.