For New Year’s! A collection of fun origami ideas to make, decorate, and play with in childcare
Where do you start when preparing to welcome the New Year at a daycare or kindergarten? In this article, we’ve gathered origami ideas for the New Year that children can enjoy together.
From classic motifs like daruma dolls, lion dances, and kagami mochi to crafts that lead to play—such as playing fukuwarai with an otafuku mask or writing wishes on ema plaques—these are all projects that extend the fun after folding! There are no difficult steps, and we focus on activities that small hands can try with an adult’s help.
Once finished, use them as wall decorations or display them in the classroom to boost the New Year atmosphere!
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For the New Year! A collection of fun origami ideas for childcare—make, decorate, and play (21–30)
folding fan
When it comes to January, crafts with a Japanese theme are a perfect fit.
One recommendation is a folding fan! If you make it with gold or silver origami paper and display it in your room, it instantly creates a festive atmosphere.
Using a single sheet of origami is simple and nice, but if you want a more polished finish, try attaching different origami paper to the handle area and the ends.
There are no complicated steps, so even small children can make this origami without any trouble!
lion dance
New Year’s is exciting for both kids and adults.
How about making an origami shishimai (lion dance) that everyone can enjoy? The shishimai, made by combining parts of various sizes, is perfect for the whole family to build together.
With creative colors and patterns, you can finish a one-of-a-kind original lion dance! It’s perfect for the New Year atmosphere and also recommended for craft time at schools or in the community.
Making it as a family will create fun memories.
Experience the warmth of handmade crafts to brighten the New Year.
plum blossoms
Here’s an easy plum blossom you can make with just origami paper.
You can also use it as a wall decoration, so why not incorporate it in various settings? First, fold a single sheet of origami paper, then sketch a cutting line and cut along it with scissors.
The key is to draw a gentle curve when you sketch the line.
Gently open the paper, and it’s done! You can change the colors and sizes, or use round stickers to create the center.
This idea is also recommended for senior facilities and early childhood settings.
Kadomatsu
How about making a New Year’s origami kadomatsu? Using colorful paper to represent bamboo, pine, and plum blossoms will instantly give your room a festive feel.
Folding together as a family is a lovely way to connect with Japanese traditions and culture.
It’s perfect for children’s learning, and it also serves as hand exercises for older adults.
As you get ready for the New Year, why not spend some peaceful time with origami? It’s fun to try a variety of designs, from simple folds to slightly more challenging ones.
kagami mochi (traditional Japanese New Year rice cake decoration)
As a New Year’s decoration, we recommend making kagami mochi origami with your children.
The design is easy to fold even with small hands, offering a fun way to brighten up the New Year.
It’s perfect for passing the time during winter break and for family bonding.
Using only safe origami paper—no scissors or glue—makes it reassuring for all generations to take part.
Once finished, hang the kagami mochi on the wall and share the feeling of the New Year’s arrival with your kids.
The colorful, three-dimensional piece will bring a smile every time you see it.
Recommended for winter! Oden origami
@hoikushi_worker How to fold “Oden” with origami. A perfect craft idea for chilly winter days! Use origami paper to make konnyaku, daikon, and chikuwa. Skewer them and place them on a paper plate, and you’ve got delicious-looking oden! Display them on the wall, make lots and play pretend oden shop, too. ================================= Do you have any concerns at your childcare workplace? Even if it’s not related to this post, tell us about any issues or worries you have in the comments! Let’s exchange ideas casually.#Childcare Crafting#Nursery School Craft#Wall Creationwall surface#Recital#HomeCraftsAutumn CraftsPapercraft#papercraft#kidscraftsOrigami playOrigamiorigami#OuchiMonte#AtHomeMontessoriEarly childhood education materialsChildcare#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare worker#First year as a nursery teacher#KindergartenKindergarten TeacherKindergarten teacherAspiring childcare worker#NurseryTeacherInTrainingNursery school teacher#NurseryTeacherThingsChildcare student#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkersNursery Teacher Worker ================================
♪ Original Song – [Sharing Useful Info for Nursery Teachers!] Hoikushi Worker – [Sharing Useful Info for Nursery Teachers!] Hoikushi Worker
When the weather turns cold, oden starts appearing by the register at convenience stores.
It’s a classic dish that every Japanese person thinks of as a winter staple.
This time, let’s make oden with origami! We’ll show you how to make konnyaku with triangles, daikon using the zabuton (cushion) fold, and burdock root by rolling a sheet of origami paper.
Try drawing patterns with colored pencils or crayons as you go.
In the end, it will take the shape of skewered oden, so enjoy sharing some hot, piping oden together.
Easy! Origami Snowman
Speaking of snowmen, they’re usually two-tiered, but this time let’s make a three-tiered snowman! First, fold the top and bottom corners of the origami paper toward the center.
Flip the paper over, then fold the top and bottom edges you just made toward the center in the same way.
At this point, the top and bottom corners will stick out, so fold those in to meet the center as well.
Next, place the paper vertically and make creases by folding the top and bottom corners twice each.
Align the corners with the center of the paper and the inner corners of the diamonds at the top and bottom.
Once the creases are made, flip the paper over and perform a pleat fold from the bottom, matching the creases to create the three tiers of the snowman.
Then, using the remaining top crease, fold the top part of the paper to the back, and fold the corners of the pleated section into triangles.
Finally, tuck the remaining bottom corner to the back, and your snowman is complete!
Let’s try folding winter fruit, the mikan (mandarin)!
When it comes to classic winter fruits, mikan (mandarins) are the best! Their sweet, delicious taste makes it hard to stop at just one.
So here’s an origami idea to enjoy in February: how to fold a mikan.
First, fold the paper into a triangle twice to create creases.
Open it up, then fold all four corners inward into triangles to give the mikan a rounded shape.
That’s it for the folding steps.
Turn the paper face up and attach a stem using a small green circular sheet.
Finally, draw the surface oil glands with a pen, and you’re done!
Origami spinning tops you can play with during the New Year!
https://www.tiktok.com/@niconico_mama/video/7456395030828289288Here’s an origami spinning top idea you can make once you know the “zabuton fold.” You’ll use two sheets of origami paper, so prepare your favorite colors.
First, let’s fold the first sheet.
Do a zabuton fold by bringing all four corners to the center, then repeat that same fold two more times.
For the second sheet, also do the zabuton fold three times, but flip the paper over after each fold.
After the third zabuton fold, flip the paper over and open out the corners that are gathered at the center to the outside.
This will be the body of the spinning top; the first sheet will be the handle.
For the handle, squash the areas between the corners so the center stands up, then insert it inside the body of the spinning top, aligning the corners as you go.
Now your top is complete—use the handle to spin it and have fun!
Plum blossom you can make with a single sheet
Let’s make plum blossoms that are perfect for the New Year.
Make sure to fold the creases firmly.
When creating the petals, the key is to cut a slit about halfway with scissors.
To round off the petal corners and form the shape of a plum blossom, tuck in the pointy edges.
Finally, color the center with a Posca marker to finish.
Try making plum blossoms in a variety of colors like white, red, and pink.
You’ll feel the seasonal atmosphere, and it will also serve as good fine-motor exercise for your fingers.
