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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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)

pill bug

“Origami” Easy! Pill Bug / Origami

pill bug

Pill bugs are a huge hit with kids! Let me introduce an idea for making pill bugs out of origami.

All you need is origami paper in colors like gray or black.

When you think of pill bugs, you picture them in moist places, like under fallen leaves or stones.

Many children probably enjoy playing outside while searching for pill bugs, don’t they? The key to this method is the step where you make an accordion fold, shifting it slightly each time.

It captures the pill bug’s characteristics and gives a realistic finish!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Soap bubbles made with tissue paper

https://www.tiktok.com/@buchiko_hoiku/video/7369783897984486672

Great for rainy-day crafting! Here’s an idea for making “soap bubbles” with tissue paper.

When you think of soap bubbles, you probably picture blowing them outside and watching them float away on the wind.

This time, let’s create beautiful bubbles using tissue paper and construction paper.

You’ll need white construction paper, tissue paper, scissors, colored construction paper, and a spray bottle.

Arrange torn pieces of tissue paper on the white construction paper, then spray them with water.

Once it’s dry, peel off the tissue paper and cut the paper into circles—done!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

We introduced origami ideas to try in May.

Origami not only lets you incorporate seasonal motifs, but also helps children develop an understanding of folding steps and practice fine motor skills, so it’s great to make lots together.

Let’s enjoy origami play with children, choosing activities that suit their age and developmental stage.