Lovely Play & Recreation

For New Year’s! A collection of fun origami ideas to make, decorate, and play with in childcare

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.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

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!

For the New Year! A collection of fun origami ideas for childcare—make, decorate, and play (21–30)

plum blossoms

[Origami] Plum Blossom (1) Easy, Cute, New Year, Winter

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.

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Kadomatsu

[New Year Origami] Easy 'Happy New Year' Kadomatsu 🎍 How to make a paper kadomatsu #Seollal #NewYear #Decoration #NewYear’sDay #Kadomatsu #Fan #HowToFold #Origami #PaperFolding #DIY #HowToMake

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.

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kagami mochi (traditional Japanese New Year rice cake decoration)

[New Year] Easy! Just one sheet of origami! How to fold a Kagami Mochi 🍊 Perfect as a New Year decoration ✨ origami kagami mochi rice cake

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.

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Origami spinning tops you can play with during the New Year!

https://www.tiktok.com/@niconico_mama/video/7456395030828289288

Here’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!

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Plum blossom you can make with a single sheet

[New Year Origami] Easy and cute plum blossom made with one sheet of origami / How to fold origami plum blossoms

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.

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Easy and cute Daruma origami

[ New Year Origami ] Easy and Cute Daruma Folding Method | Origami Daruma

Easy and cute Daruma origami

As we welcome the New Year, let’s make the perfect daruma for setting our goals.

First, crease the origami paper in half vertically and horizontally.

Fold along the creases to shape the outline of the daruma.

Since it’s a daruma, the key is to round the corners for a softer, curved shape.

For the body, decide the width while adjusting the overall balance.

Once you draw the daruma’s facial features—eyes, mustache, and eyebrows—it’s complete.

If you use different colors of origami paper, you can create various types of daruma; lining them up might look festive and be a lot of fun.

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Easy and cute! Lion dance origami

[New Year Origami] Easy and Cute Lion Dance Origami / Winter Origami – Origami Lion Dance

Easy and cute! Lion dance origami

In this idea, you use two sheets of origami paper to make a horse by separating it into the head and the body.

The head is made with steps similar to folding a kabuto (samurai helmet) at first.

First, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold both corners up to meet the top corner.

Next, flip the paper top-to-bottom, and again fold the left and right corners up to meet the top corner.

Slightly fold back the parts you just folded to the outside to form the ears, then turn the paper over.

Make the nose by making a roll fold with the top layer of the bottom corner, and fold the top corner down to create the mane.

Turn the paper over again, tuck the left and right corners inward to refine the outline, and finish the head.

The body follows steps similar to making a trick boat (damashibune).

Fold the left-right and top-bottom edges to the center to form a square, then open the pocket sections to create two boats.

Use the corners of these boats to represent the legs and the tail.

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