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Backyard Summer Camp

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Home » Craft » 15 Easy Origami Crafts for Kids

15 Easy Origami Crafts for Kids

Origami crafts for kids are an easy way to introduce them to this creative paper folding craft with step-by-step instructions for beginners.

Collage of easy origami crafts for kids including monster corner bookmarks, whales, a mermaid, hopping frogs, and tropical birds.

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Origami is a Japanese paper folding craft that anyone can learn. All you need is paper. Origami paper is best, but any type will do in a pinch.

We collected a bunch of fun and easy origami patterns for beginners that kids will enjoy making. If your kids get stuck, remember to go slow and check that they have completed each step correctly. It’s easy to make one fold backward and throw off your whole project.

Try a few of these simple origami ideas with your family.

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Paper cup

This origami paper cup is really useful! Teach your kids how to make it from Strength and Sunshine and they can make one in a pinch. It would be perfect for hiking, camping trips, or even at a water fountain.

Floating boat

Make an origami paper boat with this tutorial from Backyard Summer Camp. It really floats on water and it would be fun to build a few and have boat races.

Corner bookmark

Learn how to fold paper to make this corner bookmark from The Inspiration Edit. It’s a handy craft to make for adults and kids, especially if you feel like you can never find a bookmark! The simple triangle shape is fun, but they even added details to look like a monster.

Monster corner bookmarks from The Inspiration Edit.
Photo courtesy The Inspiration Edit

Fortune-teller

This pick-a-veggie fortune is a cute way to get kids to eat more vegetables. One Mama’s Daily Drama has a tutorial at the end on how to fold it. You could use this method to make any type of fortune and write in your own answers.

Woodland fox

Make a simple origami fox, via Easy Peasy and Fun. There are two different tutorials for this one – one standing up and the other tilting its head. It would be fun to make these along with some paper trees or other woodland creatures.

Mermaid

This folded paper mermaid by Pink Stripey Socks is so cute! This is an easy beginner craft and uses tape in a few places to make it even simpler.

Origami mermaid from Pink Stripey Socks.
Photo courtesy Pink Stripey Socks

Cubes

These colorful origami paper cubes hold their shape without any tape or glue. Learn how to make them from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls. Fold a set to stack together as blocks, add number sticks are roll them for dice, or just see how many your kids can make.

Butterfly

Butterflies are so colorful, so gather origami paper in a variety of colors and patterns for folding these kid-friendly butterflies at Woo Jr. These would be pretty hanging from a string in a window or from the ceiling.

Whale

Fold a whole family of origami whales, via Red Ted Art. Kids would love making this craft and then reading a book about whales.

Blue origami whales from Red Ted Art.
Photo courtesy Red Ted Art

Finger puppets

What Do We Do All Day? has a fun tutorial for making origami finger puppets. Finger puppets are great for pretend play and storytelling. And your kids can customize them to look like any characters.

Shark

Make a whole family of sharks, via Hawaii Travel With Kids, so your kids can act out the “Baby Shark” song with origami characters. This would be a fun activity for Shark Week learning too.

Tropical birds

These paper birds from Artsy Craftsy Mom are really fun and colorful. They added magnets to the back so they can stick to the refrigerator too.

Three origami birds colored pink, yellow, and green with wiggly eyes from Artsy Craftsy Mom.
Photo courtesy Artsy Craftsy Mom

Envelope

There are tons of ways to use this origami envelope by Gathering Beauty. Kids could write letters to each other or send one to a family member. Envelopes make great pockets for a journal or scrapbook too.

Bear

Recycle a brown paper bag into a cute bear face. Make this activity from All For The Boys along with a nature movie, or while reading a book like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear.”

Jumping frog

Origami frogs fold so that when you press on their backs, they jump! After your kids make a few of these jumping frogs, they can play a few games. Messy Little Monster has the instructions to make the frog and then a counting game with paper cups.

Origami jumping frogs in green, pink, yellow, purple, and blue from Messy Little Monster.
Photo courtesy Messy Little Monster

Origami for kids is the perfect activity for a rainy day or when you need everyone to sit quietly for a while. Although some of these projects have a few steps, once your kids have learned the techniques, they will want to make them all.

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More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

  • 12 Paracord and Macrame Crafts for Kids
  • DIY Kids Summer Journal Ideas
  • 33 Paper Towel and Toilet Paper Tube Crafts
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About Keri

Keri is the creator of Backyard Summer Camp as well as her family lifestyle blog, One Mama's Daily Drama. She lives in Texas with her family, where she spent her kids' childhood summers planning fun activities to keep them entertained.

Follow @CampBackyard on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for inspiration to plan your own DIY summer camp with your family.

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