# Origami for Kids
> Fold six simple paper models with your preschooler: a boat, airplane, house, bird, fortune teller and purse. Then decorate them with crayons and markers. Along the way, talk about shapes, symmetry and how a flat sheet becomes a 3-D object.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/origami-for-kids/
- Ages: 4–8 yrs · Difficulty: medium · Mess: low
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: fine-motor, spatial-skills, sequencing, symmetry, geometry, hand-eye-coordination, attention-to-detail, early-math

## Materials (one batch)
- 6 sheet Colored printing paper
- Crayons & markers (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (adult use) (optional) (household)
- Beginner origami books (optional)

## Safety
- Paper edges can cause small paper cuts. Show kids how to fold and crease carefully.
- An adult does any cutting of paper into squares.
- Floating paper boats in the tub, a stream or a lake: an adult stays right with kids near water at all times.

## Before you start
- If origami is new to you, borrow a few beginner origami books from the library and practice the models yourself first.
- Choose simple models your child can play with, knows about and understands. We did a boat, airplane, house, bird, fortune teller and purse.
- Cut some printing paper into squares for models that start from a square sheet, like the boat.

## Steps
1. Fold a square sheet diagonally and show how the square turns into 2 triangles. Then fold another square in the middle to make 2 rectangles.
2. Fold a boat together, using both hands to make neat, matching folds.
3. Fold a paper airplane next and give it a test flight.
4. Fold a house. Make a few more to build a neighborhood.
5. Fold a bird. Make extras to create a bird house.
6. Fold a fortune teller and add numbers and signs to play simple arithmetic.
7. Fold a purse to use for pretend shopping or as a container for play.
8. Add all the features with crayons and markers: windows, doors, eyes, patterns.
9. Set up a display of everything you made and play with it.

## Tips
- Use colored printing paper. Construction paper is too thick and not very pliable.
- At 4, origami is still a very adult involved activity. Think of it as showing your child the possibilities and opening a new world of this ancient 'folding paper' technique.
- Choose the simplest things to make, ones your child can play with, knows about and understands.
- In origami there isn't a dominant hand and a passive hand. Both hands work in a symmetrical pattern, so encourage kids to use both.
- The best part is adding all the features once the folding is done.
- Being actively involved in playing alongside them takes 'quality time' to a whole new level. My 4 yr old was thrilled to see what a few folds to a piece of paper can do.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

Origami means " folding paper". Origami for kids can be much more than a craft activity. Being a preschooler, I wondered if she will be able to understand the concept of folding and making objects. Well, I decided to give it a try and I chose the simplest things to make. This is not a tutorial on how to do them but a post to encourage you to explore this technique with the kids. **Calling Origami a craft is a gross understatement because it is much more than a craft.** Here is a list of some of the benefits of Origami. Develops

- Fine Motor development
- Spatial Skills
- Sequencing
- Symmetry
- Geometry
- Hand-eye co-ordination
- Attention to details

**Origami aids in bi-lateral development of the brain.** This simple means that Origami helps stimulate both the left and the right hemispheres of a child. At a young age, kids tend to use both their hands and they grow up one hand becomes dominant and other passive. The left hemisphere is responsible for right hand control, analytical and sequential thinking. The right hemisphere is responsible for left-hand control, holistic and creative thinking and appreciation for art and music. It s obvious that a typical child will be taught the left-brain way because of the dominant right handed population. However, if both the hemispheres are adequately stimulated, the inter-hemispheric iertaction will aid the child in his/her life. Like many activities in **Origami there isn't a dominant hand and a passive/supportive hand. Both the hands have to work in a symmetrical pattern** to achieve intended results. By engaging both the hands and hence both the hemisphere enough input is sent to the brain to stimulate both the parts of the brain. **Origami is a wonderful tool to teach spatial skills, understanding of space and the relationships between shapes. Encouraging my child to try to convert 2-d to 3-d is a personal goal of mine.** Having said this at 4, Origami is still a very adult involved activity. This was more me showing her possibilities and opening her to a new world of this ancient "folding paper" technique. There has been enough said about spending time with your kids. Today's parents are overwhelmed by all the things they need to do. The quality of time, in my book, is more important than the quantity of time that we worry so much about. Setting up open ended art projects and play stations is one thing and it does provide quality time, but **I also feel being actively involved in playing** something with them takes the idea of "Quality time" to a whole new level. An involved activity like Origami requires a good communication, building , crafts , motor skills and all the fun to see your work come alive.

- Colored printing paper. Construction paper is too thick and not very pliable.
- Crayons & Markers

If you have never done origami paper crafts, I would recommend you visit your local library and borrow a few books on the subject and try a few crafts. Choose simple ones that your child can play with, knows about and understands.

### Boat Geometry

Who doesn't like to build boats? Play with them in the tub or if weather permits take them to a stream or lake. Use this to teach geometry an symmetry. A square sheet of paper when folded diagonally turns the **square into 2 triangles** You can contrast it by folding the square sheet in the middle and show that it makes 2 rectangles.



An airplane was next.



A House. Make a few more and build a neighborhood.



A Bird: Make extras and create a bird house.



Fortune Teller: Add numbers and signs to play simple arithmatic



The best part is to add all the features.



Shopping anyone? Use it as a purse or as a container for your play.



Here is our display. My4 yr old was thrilled to see what a few folds to a piece of paper can do. And that was my goal ! Now its your turn to make a few of these and more. Come back, show off and tell us your experience.



Thanks for reading

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