[Childcare] Let's make toys you can play with using origami!
Traditional origami play has long been popular across a wide range of ages, from young children to the elderly.
Origami helps develop dexterity and concentration, and gives kids a sense of accomplishment when they finish a piece—benefits that positively support their growth.
In this article, we’ll share several ideas for origami-made toys that will make origami time even more fun.
From nostalgic creations you probably made at least once as a child, to models with amusing motions, to surprising toys that make you say, “You can make that with paper?”—there are plenty of exciting ideas to spark joy!
Make them with your family or friends and have a blast together.
Give them a try and enjoy playing with everyone!
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[Childcare] Let’s make toys you can play with using origami! (21–30)
smartphone
Some children may envy the smartphones that adults use every day.
In that case, why not make one out of origami so they can feel like they’re using a smartphone at preschool? Fold a sheet of origami paper in half and open it, then fold about 5 mm of each of the opposing edges, and fold them in toward the center crease.
Continue folding while making small cuts so it takes on a long, smartphone-like shape, then attach a screen piece made from another sheet of origami to finish.
Write the time on the screen or draw your favorite pictures and enjoy making your very own smartphone!
Tonton Sumo
The first one to topple after tapping the ring loses! Known as paper sumo, Ton-ton Sumo has long been a beloved game among Japanese children.
You can enjoy it with wrestlers made by drawing on construction paper or cardstock and folding them in half, but making them with origami is also recommended! After creasing along the diagonals, fold each corner to the center, then fold the corners in to the center again.
Flip it over and continue folding; finally, fold it vertically in half and adjust so it stands—your origami wrestler is complete.
Let’s tap and play inside a ring made from cardboard or within a taped-off square on a table using masking tape!
stacking boxes
Let’s make a stacking set of boxes, where cute little boxes keep appearing from inside the larger one! Prepare origami paper in various sizes, such as 15 cm, 13 cm, and 11 cm per side.
For the box bases, use paper that is 0.5 cm shorter on each side than the paper used for the lids.
Fold each piece into a box shape, and nest the smaller boxes inside the larger ones to complete it! To make the moment of opening more fun, try drawing different expressions on each lid or sketching your favorite characters.
It could also be interesting to have a new message appear each time you open a box.
Infinite Cube
Let me introduce an infinity cube that moves like a funny snake.
Prepare one and a half sheets of origami paper.
Cut one full sheet lengthwise into eight equal strips, and cut the half sheet into four equal strips.
Apply glue to the corner of one strip and attach another strip at a right angle.
Fold the lower strip upward, and fold the other strip over the top.
Keep repeating the same folding motion, using your fingernail to crease firmly each time.
At the end, glue it to secure everything in place, and it’s done.
To make it tumble down stairs, stack and glue together five pieces of cardstock cut to the same shape on the front and back to add weight.
Give the infinity cube a try!
Bouncy Bunny
The fun part of origami isn’t just the time you spend folding—it’s also being able to admire and play with what you’ve made afterward.
If you make a sailing boat, you can float it on a kiddie pool; if you make a pinwheel, you can hold it up to the wind and watch it spin—the fun just keeps going.
Here we’re introducing the “Hopping Bunny.” After you fold it, you can flick its backside and actually make it hop.
There’s a similar one called the “Hopping Frog.” Since there are over 30 folding steps, the difficulty is somewhat on the advanced side.
It might be fun to prepare larger sheets of paper and fold together while giving a lesson.