It moves! You can play with it! Fun origami. How to make origami toys.
Origami is one of those essential activities in early childhood care: it helps develop children’s dexterity and concentration, and lets them experience the joy and sense of achievement that comes from completing a project.
This time, we’ll show you how to make moving toys using origami.
We’re focusing on toys you can make using only origami paper, so there’s very little to prepare—another nice bonus.
You’ll find lots of origami toys with unique, kid-pleasing movements that will spark their curiosity and keep them fully engaged.
Pick the ones that catch your eye, make them, and have fun playing with them!
- [Childcare] Let's make toys you can play with using origami!
- [Childcare] Make and play! Origami ideas
- Simple origami for kids: cute, playable origami ideas
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them
- Easy to make! DIY ideas for Whack-a-Gator
- [Childcare] Today’s Fun Origami Play
- [For 5-year-olds] Let’s make origami! A collection of fun folding ideas
- Origami ideas boys will want to make!
- [Age 2] Summer Fun! Simple Origami Toys Perfect for Indoor Play
- [Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
- Cute Origami Ideas for Girls
- [For 4-5-year-olds] Folding is fun! A collection of January origami ideas to enjoy with preschoolers
- Handmade games: DIY craft ideas you can make and play
It moves! You can play with it! Fun origami. How to make origami toys (1–10)
Paku Paku Clip
Let me introduce a playful origami called the Pakupaku Clip, which lets you pinch and pick up small objects.
First, prepare a single sheet of origami paper and a pen to mark the paper.
It’s nice that you can make it without using scissors or glue! The folding method is simple, but there are many steps where you add lots of creases, so be sure to make sharp, firm folds as you go.
Once you’re done, crumple a piece of origami paper into a small ball and try pinching it with a pakupaku motion.
It’s also fun to compete and see who can collect the most origami paper balls using the Pakupaku Clip!
munch munch
Let’s make a fun chomping toy that’s completed using just origami and offers lots of ways to play.
Once you learn how to fold it, you can enjoy playing with friends and family anytime, anywhere with just a single sheet of origami, so be sure to master it.
The folding steps are simple, so both young children and older adults can make it.
When it’s finished, you can make it chomp with one hand, or use both hands to open and close it.
If you write a few questions and answers on each face, you can also play a little psychological game with it.
Slinky
How about making a fun slinky out of origami, with its curious spring-like motion that stretches and shrinks? You’ll use one quarter of a sheet of origami paper, and the creases are important, so be sure to fold firmly while paying attention to the fold lines.
The folding steps are simple, and once you make one piece, you’ll repeat the same steps to make several more and connect them, so it should be enjoyable to put together.
The pieces are connected in a spiral, and there’s no set number of pieces—link as many as you like! Finally, glue origami paper to the front and back, draw any face or picture you like, and your fun slinky is complete!
It moves! You can play with it! Fun origami. How to make origami toys (11–20)
Spinning origami
This is a fun origami activity where pieces spin as they fall while catching the wind.
The first is a ring-shaped piece that looks like glasses, the second is a fish-shaped piece, and the third is a curious boomerang-shaped piece.
Each one catches the wind and spins differently, so it’s fun to observe.
It’s great that all you need is origami paper, glue, and scissors.
The tasks of cutting with scissors and applying glue are simple, so even young children can enjoy the sense of accomplishment of making their own original creations.
snake-in-the-box
Introducing the “Snake-in-the-Box,” a jack-in-the-box where a snake pops out.
You’ll crease the origami while changing the angle as you fold.
After folding the snake’s mouth, the key step is shaping the origami corner to a 90-degree angle.
This becomes the jack-in-the-box section from which the snake emerges.
Finally, accordion-fold the snake’s body with alternating mountain and valley folds, place it into the jack-in-the-box you made, and you’re done.
Pinch both sides of the box section with your fingers, and when you let go, the wiggly snake will pop out! It’s a lot of fun—be sure to try making one yourself.
paper balloon
Let’s try folding a paper balloon—one of the classic toys you can make with origami.
The traditional origami paper balloon has many steps, but if you go through them one by one, you’ll get it done.
If you’ve ever wondered, “How do you make a paper balloon?” and didn’t know the method, don’t worry—take your time and you’ll finish it, so both children and older adults can give it a try.
Once it’s complete, gently blow into it and it will puff up softly.
You can display it, toss it around like a little ball, and enjoy how cute it looks—be sure to make one!
koma
Here’s a spinning-top toy you can make using three sheets of origami paper of the same size.
The folding method is easy to follow, so as long as you proceed carefully step by step, everyone from young children to older adults can enjoy making it.
If you use three different colors of paper, the finished top will be very colorful.
It looks beautiful when it spins, so pick your favorite colors.
After folding each piece, stack the three parts and assemble them.
Having a bit of weight helps the top spin well.
Once it’s finished, try spinning it and playing with friends or family.