Origami for Beginners Parent’s Guide

Learn everything you need to know about origami for beginners, then teach your kids a few fun and easy patterns.

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Origami is a popular art activity for kids and adults! You don’t need many supplies – just paper – and it’s a very inexpensive activity.

Although there are many detailed patterns for adults, kids can learn origami for beginners too. After you read our parent’s guide, try a few of these easy origami crafts for kids. Or make one of these adorable origami animals.

Teaching your kids to make a few origami crafts is a great way to practice hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and how to follow instructions.

What is origami

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. The craft is as old as paper (which was invented in China thousands of years ago), but folding origami patterns for fun began around the 1600s. Before then, it was often created as decoration for religious ceremonies and weddings.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that origami became popular in the US. Akira Yoshizawa published a book that standardized many symbols and diagrams that are commonly used now.

Modern origami artists create elaborate and amazing designs. They often start with the basic foundations origami has used for centuries.

Basics of origami

Most origami patterns use a single sheet of paper. Traditional origami is done without any tape, glue, or scissors. Some modern tutorials do use those tools though.

Origami tutorials usually include step-by-step instructions, with each step including one or 2 specific folds.

Origami terms

There aren’t too many special terms for origami, but understanding these will help you follow most instructions:

• Base – The foundation folds that are often the starting point for several different patterns.
• Crease – Folding and unfolding the paper to leave a visible line.
• Fold – A completed step that creates a new shape.
• Folded edge – The intersection where the paper meets and bends.
• Pleat – Paper folded back and forth in a zig-zag.
• Raw edge – The original outside edge of the paper.

Basic origami folds

1. Mountain

To make a mountain fold, fold the paper away from you. It looks a bit like a tent.

2. Valley

To make a valley fold, fold the paper toward you. This shape is a simple V.

3. Shawl

To make a shawl fold, turn the square of paper so that it is a diamond and fold the top point down to line up with the bottom one. The finished shape is a triangle – you might use it turned any direction.

4. Cushion

To make a cushion fold, fold 4 corners toward the center. This is a popular base shape. It looks a bit like a traditional floor cushion.

5. Cupboard

To make a cupboard fold, fold 2 outside edges toward each other to meet in the center. This shape resembles the doors of a cabinet or cupboard.

6. Kite

To make a kite fold, fold 2 outside corners toward each other to meet in the center. The shape resembles a classic kite, with 2 short sides and 2 long sides.

Origami supplies

Technically all you need to get started folding origami is paper. Any kind will do, but paper made specifically for paper folding works best because it’s thin and crisp. Here are a few more supplies you might find handy.

Origami paper

• Solid color paper – 6×6-inch, same color on both sides
• Solid color paper– 6×6-inch, white on the back
• Rainbow gradient paper – 6×6-inch, patterned on both sides
• Colorful galaxy paper – 3.75×3.75-inch, same pattern on both sides

Craft tools

• Bone folder – handy for making sharp creases
• Ruler – alternative to a bone folder and handy when you need to measure paper
• Scissors – when you need to cut paper smaller
• Paper trimmer – an alternative to scissors

Origami kits

These are totally extra, but each one includes a unique project for kids!

Now that you’ve learned the basics of origami, it’s time to start crafting! Learn how to fold a paper fortune or make a few origami cranes. Or try our popular origami pirate boat! Be sure to save this post in case you need to come back and check a technique while you’re folding.

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