[Childcare] Make and play! Origami ideas
Origami plays a big role in daycares and kindergartens.
With just a single sheet, you can make all kinds of things—origami helps nurture children’s imagination, thinking skills, concentration, and fine motor skills.
It’s something you’ll definitely want to incorporate a lot into playtime.
So this time, we’re introducing ideas for origami you can make and play with.
Of course, we’ve included the classic airplane that everyone has folded at least once, as well as lots of unique ideas—like balloons and cameras—that spark kids’ curiosity.
After you finish your creations, set aside plenty of time to play so everyone can have a blast together.
We hope you find this helpful.
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[Childcare] Make-and-play! Origami Ideas (1–10)
A fun origami that snaps and bitesNEW!
This is a fun origami that gives you the sensation of being playfully nipped when you press down from above with your finger.
We’ll make it using a quarter of a standard-size origami sheet.
Fold it twice to form a square.
Open it once, then fold the sides to make a triangle and collapse along the creases.
Up to this point, it’s similar to how you make a crane.
Now open it up and make four small cuts.
From there, continue folding, using the crease lines as your guide.
The key to a neat finish is making crisp, firm creases.
It’s a project that children and adults alike can enjoy—you might find it surprisingly addictive! Try making lots in bright, colorful papers!
Moving is fun! Spring toyNEW!
Spring toys with mysterious motions are so captivating that you can keep playing with even store-bought ones forever, right? Let’s make that kind of spring toy with origami.
You’ll need one regular square sheet of origami and another sheet cut in half.
Cut each into long, narrow strips so you have a total of 12 pieces.
Glue two strips together at a right angle, flip them over, and fold them back and forth in an alternating pattern.
When the folding sections start getting short, extend them by gluing on more strips to continue.
The key is to make crisp creases as you fold.
Once you’ve used all 12 strips, you’re done! Try wobbling it or pressing it like a switch to play.
Moving! Origami TongsNEW!
How about origami tongs that really pinch? This is a moving toy you can make from a single sheet of double-sided origami paper.
Fold it twice into a triangle, open it once, then fold the left and right edges along the center line.
Open it up and use the crease lines to collapse-fold.
Fold the longer edges in two places along the center line, open the hollow sections, and flatten them.
After making the folded parts into mountain folds, the tong’s mouth will open and close—your chomp-chomp origami tongs are complete.
They can actually pick up small objects, which is lots of fun.
Give it a try as a toy for your child!
[Childcare] Make-and-Play! Origami Ideas (11–20)
It moves! A flapping batNEW!
This is perfect for Halloween decorations or toys, with wings that flap amusingly.
First, cut the origami paper into a long rectangle and fold it in half vertically to make a crease.
Then fold both ends into triangles toward the center.
Keeping that shape, fold it in half vertically again, and fold further in the same direction to add a light crease at the center.
Next, flip it over and insert a finger at the center to make two creases.
Reinforce the creases you made earlier, and it’s done! By lightly holding the top and bottom of the center and moving them, the wings on both sides will flap.
Shape-shifting! Magic TriangleNEW!
Let’s make a very mysterious push-pop magic triangle out of origami that can change shape over and over again! We’ll use three colors of origami paper, so prepare your favorite colors.
Fold one sheet of origami paper twice to make a triangle, then fold the top and bottom corners in two places toward the center.
Flip it over, fold the sides toward the center line, fold the left and right corners inward, and form a parallelogram shape.
A key tip for success is to crease the square in the middle firmly along its diagonals.
Make three of these, then combine them to finish.
Thanks to its ever-transforming nature, it’s a fascinating toy you’ll want to keep touching forever.
A well-spinning top made with two sheets of origami!NEW!
How about a spinning top made from two sheets of origami, with a beautifully twirling form? For the first sheet, fold it in half into a triangle twice, then fold all four corners toward the center.
Flip it over and again fold the four corners toward the center.
Flip it over once more and repeat the same steps.
Then, make reverse folds from the center out toward the outer corners to complete the base.
Use the second sheet to make the spinning component and combine them to finish.
Spinning tops are toys that people of all ages, from children to adults, can enjoy.
Please try making one together and enjoy a fun time.
It’s like it’s alive! Pachi-paku faceNEW!
A mysterious origami piece that looks like it’s talking when you move the finished face.
Use one sheet of origami for the eyes and nose, and one sheet for the mouth.
First, for the eyes-and-nose sheet, make vertical accordion folds.
Next, add horizontal accordion creases as well, but without unfolding the accordions near the center; instead, create four triangles partway along to form the eyes.
Then, for the mouth sheet, make accordion creases vertically and horizontally in the same way, leaving one of the accordion folds kept folded at the center.
Create a larger bulge for the mouth, shaping the top and bottom, to complete the mouth.
Finally, combine the eye-nose part with the mouth part and you’re done.
If you firmly hold the combined section and move it, the face will move!