[For Kids] Easy Origami Ideas to Enjoy in May
May, with its pleasant climate, is a fun season full of events like Golden Week, Children’s Day, and Mother’s Day.
In this article, we’ll introduce origami ideas for children to enjoy in May.
We’ve gathered easy-to-fold projects for kids, including traditional favorites like carp streamers and samurai helmets, as well as flowers and creatures you can see in May.
There are plenty of origami designs perfect for Children’s Day decorations, so be sure to make some and display them!
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[For Kids] Easy Origami Ideas to Enjoy in May (1–10)
helmet
When it comes to kabuto (samurai helmet) origami, it’s probably one of the best-known origami models in Japan across multiple generations.
The folding method is simple, but by changing the size, it can become a helmet you can actually wear or be used as interior decor—there are many possible uses.
Models like the crane, kabuto, and yakko-san are known as traditional origami, and they seem to have spread among common people around the Edo period.
This origami is perfect for Children’s Day, and we hope families—parents and children, as well as grandparents—can enjoy it together across generations.
iris
When you hear “shōbu” (iris), you probably think of the flowers used as decorations for the Boys’ Festival on May 5th.
Let’s try making an iris out of origami.
The folding for the flower follows the steps of a paper crane up to a point, and then gets a bit more complex, but once you get through that, the stem and leaves are easy.
If the flower part looks like it might open up, a little glue will help keep it stable.
Try making them in slightly different shades, or create several and paste them on colored paper, or turn them into a wall decoration—either way, they bring out a lovely seasonal feel.
Give it a try!
windmill
Speaking of pinwheels, although they have long been associated with Japan, they actually came over from China during the Heian period as a type of toy.
Let’s make a simple pinwheel with a single sheet of origami paper, a straw, and either a toothpick or a thumbtack.
Fold the origami paper in half into a triangle twice, then make cuts along the creases, stopping about 3 centimeters from the center.
Glue the tips of the cut sections to the center.
After you’ve done all four, poke a toothpick through the center, and insert the tip of the toothpick into the end of a bendy straw to finish.
[For Kids] Easy Origami Ideas to Enjoy in May (11–20)
Kintaro
It is said that he was born in the mountains of Ashigara to a red dragon and a mountain crone, later became a retainer of Minamoto no Yorimitsu, received the name Sakata Kintoki, and even took part in ogre-slaying.
You can feel a parent’s wish for their child to grow up strong and lively like Kintaro, can’t you? This Kintaro is made by combining four sheets of origami of different sizes.
Fold and assemble the four parts—face, hair, body, and the red apron—and you’re done.
The face is meant to be drawn by you, so go ahead and give Kintaro a big, energetic expression.
chimaki (a Japanese sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves; in Chinese contexts, often called zongzi)
Chimaki, a treat eaten on Children’s Day, is said to carry wishes for children’s healthy growth and serve as a protective charm.
But preparing real chimaki can take some effort.
This time, we’ll show you how to make chimaki using just origami paper, scissors, and a pen.
Once you have green origami paper, fold it into thirds, overlapping so it forms a triangle.
Fold the inner white areas inward so they don’t show, and fold the corners as well.
When you turn it over, it should look like a teardrop.
Next, take a strip of origami paper cut lengthwise and wrap it around, gluing as you go.
Once you’ve finished wrapping, draw a face or add patterns with a pen, and you’re done.
Why not try making these with your child while sharing the story behind chimaki?
butterfly
Let’s make a butterfly often seen in spring using origami.
Fold the paper in half to make a crease, then fold the left and right corners toward the center and add a horizontal crease.
For the butterfly’s wings, open them into triangles by puffing them out along the creases.
The key is to fold the body and wings together while checking the balance so they form an even shape.
Once your three-dimensional butterfly is finished, try moving the wings and playing with it.
If you draw patterns on the wings with colored pens, it will look even more vibrant.
ladybug
Let’s make a small, cute ladybug with origami.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and start by creating the base shape for the ladybug.
For the wings, fold the left and right wings upward, making sure they are the same size—that’s the key point.
Fold the corners into triangles to round out the ladybug, and it’s complete.
Use colored pens to draw eyes on the white area and add patterns on the wings.
To give it a 3D look, using round stickers is also recommended.