[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)
Koinobori chopstick rest
Having adorable koi-shaped streamers on the dining table makes the celebration even more festive.
Your child will surely love it, too.
This time, we’re introducing an easy-to-make koi streamer chopstick rest.
All you need is origami paper and a pen.
First, fold the paper in half vertically and horizontally to make crease lines, then fold one side and flip it over.
Fold it into quarters along the center line, fold the corners inward, and use a pen to draw original patterns such as eyes and scales.
Finally, overlap the paper at the mouth side, and you’ll have a three-dimensional, freestanding chopstick rest.
Give it a try!
Cute with origami! How to fold a strawberry
Strawberries, which are in season in spring, are a big favorite among preschoolers.
Some families may go strawberry picking every spring.
Let’s make those cute red strawberries with origami and enjoy a craft time! Fold a red sheet of origami paper in half horizontally, rotate it, and fold it in half again, then fold the top corners inward.
Fold a green sheet of origami paper in half horizontally, cut it into a smaller long-vertical strip, then divide it into three parts.
Glue the ends of each strip together to form rings.
Make three of these and attach them to the strawberry as leaves.
Draw the seeds with a pen to finish.
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.
[For Kids] Easy Origami Ideas to Enjoy in May (11–20)
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!
Rose
Here’s a perfect origami rose idea for May, when roses are in full bloom.
Despite its intricate look, the folding steps are simple, so give it a try.
First, crease an X and a plus sign, then fold so that two triangles overlap.
Fold both bottom corners up to the top corner, open the pocket that forms, and then open the pocket between the opened sections as well.
Finally, pinch the triangular part on the back and twist to finish! You can glue them onto construction paper to make a bouquet of roses, or use them for wall displays—they’ll look lovely.
strawberry
When it comes to fruits you want to eat in spring, strawberries come to mind.
For those of you dreaming of eating your fill at a strawberry-picking farm, try making strawberries out of origami.
The folding steps are the same as the crane up to a certain point.
It feels like you could easily make them in bulk.
The leafy part of the strawberry is made with origami paper at one-quarter size.
The folding method is even closer to the crane than for the strawberry body, so it should be easier to understand.
Finish by drawing the strawberry seeds with a correction pen, and you’re done.
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.