Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Things to try in May! A collection of easy origami ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

I’ve put together some simple origami ideas that are perfect for enjoying in childcare settings in May!

By making items related to May-specific events like Children’s Day, as well as plants and insects out of origami, children’s imaginations will expand.

Also, spending fun time creating together with friends and adults helps deepen bonds.

Enjoying origami as a group naturally encourages communication, so it’s highly recommended.

Through origami, please create lots of colorful works and make plenty of happy memories.

[Childcare] Things to Try in May! Easy Origami Idea Collection (21–30)

carp streamer

[Origami Carp Streamer] A carp streamer you can make easily and quickly 💙 For Children's Day in May ♪ How to make a very easy carp streamer with origami

carp streamer

Let’s make an easy carp streamer (koinobori) using origami.

First, fold back about 1 cm at the end that will be the mouth to show the white underside.

Then lightly fold the paper in half, and make a slit about 2.5 cm at the tail end.

Fold that part into a triangle, and fold the outer side into a triangle as well.

Fold the body into thirds and overlap the white mouth section.

After that, draw in the eye and scales to finish.

If you cut out scales from other paper and paste them on, you’ll get a colorful koinobori.

Try using a variety of colors!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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dog

[Childcare] Pitapata Origami • May — Origami May

dog

This is an origami dog with cute floppy ears.

Fold the origami paper into a triangle and place it with the tip pointing toward you.

Fold down both end corners diagonally, then take only the top layer at the tip and fold it upward so that the back side of the triangle shows on the front.

Fold the remaining bottom layer back in the opposite direction, draw the eyes, nose, and mouth, and you’re done! Besides the method introduced here, there are many other ways to fold a dog.

Pick methods suited for children or try various patterns, and enjoy creating cute works.

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[Childcare] Things to Try in May! Easy Origami Idea Collection (31–40)

Shinkansen

@hoikushi_bank
Can even a two-year-old do it?! Introducing 3 easy origami projects ✨#origami Origami #Bus Yacht Shinkansen
♬ Cartoon-style piano solo jazz(853970) – motofuji

Let’s try folding a Shinkansen—the kids’ favorite—out of origami! This video shows how to fold a bus, a yacht, and a Shinkansen.

They all use basic techniques centered on mountain and valley folds, so even toddlers can enjoy folding them! By changing the color of the paper for the Shinkansen, you can also make versions like Komachi and Hayabusa, so be sure to try different origami papers.

As an introduction, reading a picture book or preparing an illustrated book about vehicles can make the origami activity even more enjoyable.

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Yes

Origami • Ant

Yes

Hardworking and strong enough to carry things heavier than their own bodies! Let’s make an ant out of origami.

You’ll need origami paper in colors like black or gray, plus a pen and round stickers.

Ants become active from spring to summer, so you probably see them often when you go for a walk.

There are also many songs and picture books about ants! Making an ant with origami at such times is recommended because it helps clarify the aim of the activity.

The steps are simple and easy to follow! Drawing the legs and eyes will make it even cuter.

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Origami carnations that look real

[Childcare Craft] A Mother’s Day Gift: Origami Carnation | Origami Flower Carnation for Mother’s Day

Origami carnations that look real

I want to give them as a bouquet! Here are some ideas for origami carnations that look just like the real thing.

Fresh flowers are lovely, of course, but giving origami flowers is also highly recommended.

The great thing about origami flowers is that they don’t wilt over time, so you can display and enjoy them for a long period.

They also carry the warmth of being handmade with care by a child and can become a special gift filled with gratitude.

You’ll need origami paper, double-sided tape, scissors, and glue.

It’s also a wonderful touch to arrange them into a bouquet using construction paper or wrapping paper!

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Name tag making [Ages 5 and up]

Name tags with origami! A preschool teacher shows an easy and cute way to make them! Recommended age: 5 years and up

Name tag making [Ages 5 and up]

Let’s try making a handmade name tag to wear on your chest using origami! First, crease the origami paper into four equal sections vertically.

Fold the top corners inward to form triangles, then fold the horizontal edge inward twice.

Flip it over, fold the top back down, and open up the pocketed section to shape it—it will look like a tulip! Write your name in the white area to complete the name tag.

You can also add drawings or stickers to make it cute.

Having a handmade name tag on their chest might encourage more children to take an interest in their own names and in hiragana.

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Iris

Introducing an easy way to fold an iris with origami! How about making it as a decoration for Children’s Day or for April and May? [Ori-Tsuku]

Iris

This is an origami iris with a gentle purple color that looks best in May.

Fold the paper into a triangle, then fold it into a triangle again and open it.

Fold the bottom corner up to meet the top point.

Open it once, fold the base to align with the crease, and open both sides into pockets.

Flip it over, fold the top layer down as if turning a page, then make a slit in the pointed bottom part and fold it down diagonally to finish! Pair it with a stem and leaf pieces made from green origami folded into narrow strips.

Attach them to a backing sheet or a wall display!

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