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 (11–20)
Two-colored Crane
The “Two-Color Crane” is perfect for celebrating the New Year with a lucky decoration! Make it in red and white and you’ll have a splendid good-luck charm.
All you need is a single sheet of origami paper.
Just a slight tweak to the standard crane fold and you’re done! When you step away from the fixed idea of “this is the only way to fold a crane,” you can create something this wonderful.
Make lots of them and place them in your living room or entryway to instantly boost the New Year mood.
Give it a try with your family!
Mount Fuji
As a craft to welcome a heartwarming New Year, origami depicting Mt.
Fuji can be a wonderful choice for families.
This New Year–themed origami brings people together, sparks children’s creativity, and encourages parent–child communication.
What’s more, it’s delightful that older adults can easily join in without needing advanced techniques.
In addition to soothing adults, it also makes good use of children’s idle time—through making Mt.
Fuji origami, they can develop concentration and fine motor skills.
We recommend this origami activity, which can leave you feeling as refreshed as if you were watching the first sunrise of the year.
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.
For the New Year! A collection of fun origami ideas for childcare—make, decorate, and play (21–30)
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.