Origami to Enjoy January and Winter! A Collection of Simple Ideas to Use in Childcare
Many people may be unsure which motifs to choose for origami activities in January childcare.
If you express New Year’s traditional games and decorations with origami, you can enjoy making them with children while feeling the season.
There are plenty of New Year motifs like battledores, spinning tops, Daruma dolls, and kagami mochi.
Winter-themed creations such as snowmen and snow bunnies are also perfect for this time of year.
Here, we’ll introduce origami ideas that you can enjoy with children in January childcare.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, from simple step-by-step projects to those made by combining several parts, so please use them as a reference!
Origami to Enjoy January and Winter! A Collection of Easy Ideas to Use in Childcare (1–10)
Daruma
Making a daruma out of origami is a perfect idea for the New Year.
The folding method is relatively simple, so kids will likely enjoy working on it.
Fold the origami paper in half into a triangle, then open it.
Fold each side halfway toward the crease; fold the opposite side toward the center crease as well.
Fold in the excess parts to form the face shape.
Finally, try drawing the eyes and mouth or decorating with stickers.
Writing your wishes on it is a lovely touch, too.
If the whole class makes them and decorates the classroom, it will really enhance the New Year atmosphere.
[Origami] Snowman
![[Origami] Snowman](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WD6wH5QnP64/sddefault.jpg)
This origami snowman is perfect for December, when it’s also the season of snow.
A snowman is made by placing one snowball on top of another, right? With a clever folding method, you can express the two stacked snowballs using just a single sheet of origami paper.
You can also make a scarf around the snowman’s neck.
If you use polka-dot or patterned paper, the pattern becomes the scarf, making it extra cute.
You can draw the eyes and mouth yourself, so each snowman has its own personality.
You can stick them on a wreath or a calendar, so try arranging them in different ways to expand the range of your creations.
snow rabbit
Let’s make a snow rabbit out of origami.
With simple folds and a combination of different parts, you can create a rabbit with a wintry feel.
Fold each piece carefully—eyes, ears, tail, and more.
Using white origami paper as the base and pink paper for the inner ears is a cute touch.
A snow rabbit made from origami also looks lovely as a room decoration.
It’s a warm, cozy craft that’s perfect for the cold season.
It seems like a great way to enjoy the process with your child while experiencing the season together.
Easy and cute! Snow bunny
Snow bunnies have long been considered lucky and have been loved for generations.
The origami snow bunny is simple to fold, making it a great project for older children.
Prepare one sheet of white origami paper and two pieces of green origami paper cut into quarters.
First, make the bunny’s body with the white paper.
Fold the paper in half, then fold the left and right corners—one a bit larger and the other a bit smaller.
Fold the top triangular portion downward to form the snow bunny’s body.
For the ears, fold the green paper into a triangle and open it, then fold both sides toward the center crease.
Fold the top section in the same way to complete the bunny ears.
Attach the body and ears, and create your own original snow bunny.
Snow Fairy! How to Fold a Long-tailed Tit (Shima-enaga)
Let’s make a long-tailed tit using a single sheet of origami paper.
Fold the paper into a triangle, then fold both corners up to meet the top corner.
Fold the left and right corners inward to form a triangle, then rotate the paper to swap top and bottom.
Align with the top corners of the left and right triangles, and fold the two bottom corners outward to open them—these will be the wings.
Turn the paper over, squash-fold the triangular wings into squares, then fold the bottom corner up to meet the top corner and change the wings to black.
Tuck in the left and right corners of the black section to refine the shape, and flip the paper over.
Round out the remaining white area in the center, and you’re done.
Draw the face to finish it cutely.
origami wreath
Let’s make a simple wreath out of origami without using glue or scissors! It’s a handy wreath you can use not only for New Year’s but also for other events like Christmas.
The method is easy: make eight identical pieces from origami paper and assemble them at the end.
If you decorate it with New Year’s-themed origami motifs, it will become a piece full of seasonal charm.
If you make it together with children for the New Year, it will surely fill everyone with excitement as the new year approaches!
Snowflake ornament
https://www.tiktok.com/@hanamikoto8/video/7424467680452824338Take a square sheet of origami paper divided into four equal parts and fold it into a triangle three times.
Hold the corner that becomes the center of the origami, then round off the edge and cut off the tip.
Draw two curved lines up and down from the left edge to just before the right edge, and make cuts along those curves with scissors.
Open the paper, then glue the middle sections with the slits together at the center on all four sides.
Make another one the same way, rotate it slightly, and attach them back-to-back.
Finally, add a string for hanging, and it’s complete.
koma
Let’s try making a spinning top out of origami! It’s perfect as an origami craft to enjoy in January, and a great way for kids to experience a traditional New Year’s game.
You can make it with two sheets of origami paper and a toothpick.
Make each part of the top using the two sheets, then combine them at the end.
Since there’s a step where you use an awl to make a hole in the center for the toothpick, an adult should handle that part.
You can make it even more fun by playing with different color combinations of the origami paper.
kagami mochi (traditional Japanese New Year rice cake decoration)
Let’s make kagami mochi out of origami—perfect for celebrating the New Year.
Use white origami paper and stack the pieces to represent the mochi.
You can also make a daidai (bitter orange) with orange paper to enhance the finished look.
Enjoy the steps together with your child and create a lovely piece that captures the season.
Working with a guardian makes it a fun project you can display at home, too.
It’s also a recommended idea for teachers as a New Year craft activity.
This enjoyable origami cultivates creativity while introducing a traditional motif unique to the New Year.
snowman
An origami snowman, even with a simple shape, is full of seasonal charm.
Using plain white origami paper, fold it to express the roundness of the body.
For the eyes, mouth, and buttons, just fold small circles and stick them on.
You can create all kinds of expressions, so you’ll end up with snowmen full of personality.
Origami is also popular as an activity that nurtures children’s creativity and concentration.
The appeal of creating three-dimensional shapes from a single sheet of paper is something both teachers and children can enjoy together.
Why not fold one with your child and enjoy the winter atmosphere?