Simple origami for kids: cute, playable origami ideas
This time, we’re introducing lots of cute, playable origami that are perfect for kids.
Origami is a great indoor activity that you can focus on regardless of the weather, making it perfect for time at home.
Seasonal animals, creatures, and toys you can play with after folding are fun for adults too!
You can watch videos to check each step, so even if you find origami difficult, don’t worry.
If it’s too hard for your child to do alone, a parent or guardian can fold together with them and show them how fun origami can be.
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Simple origami for kids: cute and playable origami ideas (41–50)
sword
When playing pretend as a hero or the protagonist of a game, a sword is essential, right? How about folding a sword out of origami and then playing with it? We’ll use two sheets of origami paper to make the blade and the hilt.
Neither part is difficult as long as you follow the steps carefully, so take your time and fold slowly.
Use colorful origami to make different kinds of swords, and try changing the paper size to create small swords or big swords to play with!
paper airplane
Paper airplanes are a classic among origami.
There are countless ways to fold them—from very simple to extremely detailed and difficult—so try choosing a style that matches your child’s age.
It’s also fun to fold them freely and add your own personal touch.
One of the great things about paper airplanes is that you can play with them after folding.
You can play alone, or get a group together and compete to see whose flies the farthest.
Try experimenting with different ideas as you fold.
An easy way to fold a tulip
It’s a clever idea that recreates one of the tulip’s features: leaves shaped to hide the stem.
For the flower, you basically fold the origami into a triangle, then fold up both corners.
Tuck the tips to the back to round them off for a nice finish.
For the leaves, fold the origami into a triangle to make a crease, open it, then fold the top and bottom corners to the center.
Next, fold all four edges slightly away from the initial crease.
At this point, make sure the top, bottom, left, and right corners come to sharp points.
Once all edges are folded, fold the paper in half along the crease, then overlap the left and right corners to halve it again.
Finally, fold one of the overlapped corners back diagonally, and you’re done.
Mini Tulip Origami
This tulip piece becomes a lovely spring gift if you wrap it.
The flower part is folded the same way as a balloon up to a certain point.
Fold a square sheet using the zabuton fold, then fold it into a triangle twice, squash the pocket to make a square, and fold both corners to meet the center line.
After that, open it from the top so the inside puffs out gently, and it’s complete.
Combine it with a stem rolled into a tube and a leaf made by folding the four edges to the center line, and you’ll have a tulip that looks just like the real thing! In this idea, multiple flowers are made and arranged in a vase, or wrapped as a bouquet to create a gift-like finish.
ice cream
Let’s fold and play with ice cream that both kids and adults love! There are no difficult steps—just straight folds—so it’s a fun ice cream to make.
The front side of the origami becomes the cone, and the back side becomes the ice cream.
If the back of your origami paper is white, color it with crayons or colored pencils however you like.
It would also be fun to make lots of ice creams in different colors and play “ice cream shop.”
Star (hoshi)
Let’s make a “star” out of origami—something children love and are familiar with, like the sparkling night sky or Christmas tree ornaments! The key to making a good star is to create crisp creases at the beginning.
With the white side of the paper facing up, fold to make a cross-shaped crease and then an X-shaped crease.
Next, fold the bottom-right corner to the center, then fold that corner back outward.
Finally, match the bottom-left corner to the bottom-right corner and make only a halfway crease—your pre-creases are done! After that, follow the steps to complete the star.
You can string the stars together to make a necklace or use them as a decorative accent for crafts!
snail
In origami, insects and animals are also popular, and there are many folding methods.
How about folding a snail, the symbol of the rainy season? This origami uses two sheets: one for the body and one for the shell.
You can use paper in colors close to a real snail, or try bright, imaginative colors for a cute look.
Finally, glue the two parts together, add eyes to the body, draw a spiral pattern on the shell, and it’s complete.
cracker
A cracker that’s a big hit at birthday parties and Christmas parties! You can easily make it with a single sheet of origami paper.
Fold the paper in half vertically, rotate it, and fold it in half again to make a square.
Then open the side with the opening into a triangle, and do the same on the back.
Once opened, fold it in half into a triangle, and it’s done! Hold the folded inner section and shake it—it will open with a “pop!” like a party cracker.
Real crackers can only be used once, but this origami cracker can be refolded and used again and again, so you can enjoy it many times during the party!
cat
Cats are animals that are very familiar to children.
Let’s try folding a cat with origami! If you search for how to fold a cat, you’ll find many different methods, but this one is relatively simple and doesn’t use scissors or glue.
If an adult folds it slowly and carefully together with the child, even small children can enjoy it.
After you finish folding, draw the face with a pen or colored pencils.
Try using different colors of origami paper or adding patterns to make all kinds of cats.
Hoppy Frog
Many moms and dads might say, “I folded one of these when I was a kid!” It’s the nostalgic jumping frog that hops with a boing when you tap its backside.
Since there are quite a few folding steps, it might be a bit tricky for younger children.
It’s fun to work on together with a parent or teacher.
Fold lots of colorful frogs and have a hopping contest with everyone!