[Childcare] Today’s Fun Origami Play
When you have a little spare time or are waiting around, you sometimes pass the time with quizzes or games so the kids don’t get bored, right?
But since both of those can get pretty lively, they’re not ideal when you need to wait quietly.
That’s why I recommend this article: today’s origami activity.
Origami is easy to carry without taking up space, and kids can play quietly while staying focused.
This article is updated daily, so be sure to bookmark it and put it to use in your childcare setting!
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[Childcare] Today’s Fun Origami Play (1–10)
A penguin that’s perfect for decorations
Let’s make a penguin out of origami—perfect as a seasonal decoration for fans or other ornaments.
Fold the paper into a triangle twice, then gently squash-fold it by inserting your finger into the pocket and pressing down softly from the top to puff it open.
Keep folding along the creases to form the penguin’s shape.
Be careful when using scissors to make the cuts—don’t cut the wrong spots.
As you continue, the paper will get thicker, but sharpening your creases will make it easier to proceed.
Once you fold the wings and feet while checking the balance, you’re done.
Give it a try!
Cute squirrel
Let’s make an adorable squirrel using two sheets of origami paper.
First, fold the first sheet in half into a triangle and open it, then slightly fold the corners along the crease.
Flip it over and fold up the opposite corner as well.
Fold both side corners up toward the center.
Fold each of the two top corners inward toward the center to make the ears, and slightly fold the face and mouth areas inward to make them rounded—this completes the face.
Next, fold the second sheet in half into a triangle, open it, and fold both side corners inward to meet the center crease.
Fold the two bottom corners toward the center too.
Fold the whole piece in half, offset slightly, then tuck in the bottom corners to round the shape—this completes the body.
Finally, glue the face and body together and draw the squirrel’s face, and you’re done!
A flapping pigeon
Focus on movement! Here’s an idea for a flapping pigeon that moves.
Many children are drawn to moving toys, right? While origami often brings to mind flat creations, it turns out you can make pieces that move and flap, too! This time, let’s make a cute, flapping pigeon.
All you need is one sheet of origami paper and a pen.
Pigeons are familiar birds for children, aren’t they? If your child enjoys spotting pigeons while out on walks or trips, give this a try!
[Childcare] Today's Fun Origami Play (11–20)
Pop-up card
@niconico_mama Replying to @Eri🫶🏻 I tried making it 🥰 Please use it as a reference💕 A pop-up card that’s super easy 😍✨ This time, we’ll use construction paper, which often gets leftover after you buy it once, to make a cute way to share a message💕 Getting a pop-up card for a birthday or Christmas makes your heart race with excitement, right? 😍 It seems hard, but… I experimented to make it easy. Give it a try 😍✨ Here’s how, it’s easy✨ Draw a big heart on construction paper, then spiral a heart shape around it! Cut along the lines with scissors ✨ Fold a larger sheet of construction paper in half and stick the heart inside ♥️ Put double-sided tape in the center of the heart, place it inside the large paper, and fold it shut. Once the heart sticks to the paper, flip it over, put double-sided tape at the starting cut of the heart, and fold the paper again. When you open it, the heart pops up 😍💕 Write a message, decorate with sparkly stickers, add a ribbon… Try decorating with different materials you have at home💕 Make it in lots of colors too 😊💕 It could be a nice gift 🎁 for a teacher who helped you or a friend ♥️ —————————— What I used: • Construction paper • Scissors • Pen • Stickers • Double-sided tape —————————— ☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆ Thank you always for your comments and likes 😊 Some people even report back that they made it, and it makes me super happy ☺️♥️ I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s “I played/made it” posts 😆✨✨ ☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆Childcare#Childcare Garden#Childcare Garden#NurserySchoolMama#WorkingMomKindergartenMade by the nursery schoolNursery Craft CeremonyGraduation ceremony oGraduation Celebration CeremonyGraduation ceremony preparation commemoration appapercraftdscrafts
♬ Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts
When you open the card, multiple hearts pop out.
Here’s how to make a card that’s sure to delight children who love heart shapes.
Draw a heart on construction paper, then draw several smaller hearts inside it.
Cut out the hearts with scissors, but there’s a key point: make your cuts so the heart shapes aren’t completely separated—don’t cut them all the way through.
Attach the heart-shaped construction paper to the card base.
Apply double-sided tape to the center and the tip of each heart slit.
This creates the pop-up mechanism.
Add a heartfelt message to finish.
Making a bento with origami
When the weather gets warmer, we tend to spend more time outdoors for things like field trips and picnics.
Time spent outside can be a special experience for children, different from life indoors.
One of the highlights of outings like field trips and picnics is the packed lunch, don’t you think? So here’s an introduction to making a bento using crumpled origami.
Use tissue paper to make rice balls (onigiri), and crumpled origami to make side dishes like fried chicken, broccoli, and rolled omelet.
Pack them into containers and colorful food cups sold at 100-yen shops, and your bento is complete.
A key tip is to tear black origami and stick it on as the seaweed for the onigiri.
Grandparents’ Day Portrait Origami
This portrait origami is perfect for making crafts for Respect for the Aged Day in September.
Try creating designs inspired by grandpa’s and grandma’s faces! It also makes a great handmade present from children to their grandparents, so why not introduce it in childcare settings? The trickiest part when making the face is the ears.
Since they require some fine folding, take your time and make firm creases.
You can also tear a separate sheet of origami paper and paste it on for the hairstyle.
Finish by drawing in the facial features, and you’re done.
If you’re unsure what to make for Respect for the Aged Day, this easy, approachable portrait origami is highly recommended.
roly-poly toy
@sodacatorigami Easy with a single sheet of origami♪ Lucky charm 💙 roly-poly dollOrigamiTranslationHere's how to make it.
♬ Cute heartwarming children pet sports day – SOUND BANK
Make it with a variety of motifs! Here are some ideas for roly-poly toys (okiagari-koboshi).
Okiagari-koboshi are traditional Japanese toys that, even when knocked over, immediately return to an upright position.
Their movement is amusing, and they’re fun for children to watch.
This time, let’s try making okiagari-koboshi with origami.
You can create them with various motifs—like daruma dolls, strawberries, rabbits, or frogs—so making them in children’s favorite motifs will surely delight them.