Simple DIY Origami for Kids!

Origami is an excellent way to introduce simple crafts for kids to help develop their hand-eye coordination, spatial skills, patience, attention to detail, and fine motor skills.

Although there is an assumption that origami is difficult, it doesn’t have to be, and not all of it is, truth be told. Starting with something small, and practicing regularly, makes origami both beneficial and enjoyable, especially if your little one loves to craft and create new things! 

Let the folding fun begin!

Easy origami fish

What you need

• Square origami paper
• Googly eyes
• Glue

Step-by-step process: how to make easy origami fish

• Start by folding a square piece of paper diagonally (from both sides) and in half (one side)
• Make a crease and unfold paper
• Hold paper and fold it towards the center to get a triangle shape
• Hold right corner of the triangle and fold it along the crease in the center
• Do the same with the other corner, and you get a fishtail
• Flip the paper so that the tail is hidden behind the triangle
• Glue a googly eye on the triangle

There we go, you got yourself a fun-looking origami fish!

Fun origami boat

What you need

• Rectangular piece of origami paper (any paper, from letterhead to notebook-sized will do in a pinch) 

Step-by-step process on how to make a fun origami boat:

• Fold paper (from left to right) and make a crease at the center
• Bring both corners to the center to get a triangle with a rectangle under it
• Fold one side of the rectangular part up
• There should be two little flaps showing behind the triangle, fold those little flaps
• Flip and fold the bottom rectangular part upward
• Pick up the folded paper and grab the center of the triangle and pull both sides out
• The paper should now be flat again
• Run your fingers along the folds and flatten it
• Take one layer of the folded paper from the bottom and bring it up to meet the top 
• Make sure all edges are lined up
• Flip the paper over, and fold the remaining bottom to match the pointy top 
• Place your thumbs in the bottom opening and pull it gently apart 
• Now, slowly pull apart the two sides outward
• Pinch along the bottom edges to make a fold on each side

You can make as many colorful paper boats of multiple sizes using these instructions

Cute origami puppy face

What you need

• A square sheet of paper (bigger squares make it simpler to fold, reduce the size as you get comfortable)
• Black marker
• (Optional) Googly eyes and glue

Note: You can take paper of any color, to make it more lively, use a sheet that is white on one side and colored on the other.

Step-by-step process on how to make a cute origami puppy face:

• Place the paper in a diamond position
• Fold the top corner downward to the bottom
• Fold the right corner over to the left, make a center crease, unfold it
• Fold one corner down, leaving a small gap between the folded paper and the crease in the center
• Do the same on the other corner to match
• Fold the bottom corner up
• Draw small oval dots for the eyes and color a little corner of the flap for the nose (You can also glue a couple of googly eyes instead of drawing the dots)

Don’t worry if your origami isn’t neat or does not come out perfect right away. Remember—practice, practice, practice, and you'll only get better!

Explore byjuslearning.com today to find out how your child can learn by seeing, playing, and doing through an interactive app and hands-on activities on Magic Workbooks that encourage children to learn at their own pace alongside beloved Disney and Pixar characters and become lifelong learners.