Origami Instructions for Kids

Chinese paper folding art marked the beginning of origami. After Chinese origination, the Buddhist monks from China took this art of paper folding to Japan. This marked the actual beginning of the art in Japan. Origami is a Japanese word in which 'ori' is to fold and 'gami' is paper. Initially, the name 'origami' was adopted in kindergarten due to the simplicity in writing this word. Thus, it became a popular and fun craft for kids.

Simple Origami Instructions

The ancient origami needed only paper and hands for folding the paper. However, the modern art needs glue, scissors and other things. Let's begin with some very simple objects.

Jet Plane
Take a square piece of paper and cut 1/3 of the paper from downside, so that you will get a rectangular paper. Fold it into half along the longer side of the paper. After folding again open the paper, so that you will get a reference line along the middle of the paper. Then fold both corners along the reference line to get two triangles. Again fold the same corners of the paper to form two triangles like earlier. However, when you fold the second time, leave a little space so that a small triangle of the first fold is visible. Now fold the whole paper along the reference line, but fold the paper backwards. Now fold the upper sides of the paper to form the wings of the jet plane. With this step your paper jet plane is ready!

Boat
Here are the steps to make a boat. Take a square paper and fold it in half from one side. Again unfold it and fold it along the remaining side into half. Unfold the paper again. The creases formed on the paper are for the reference. Now, take two opposite sides of the paper and fold them in such a way that the parallel ends of the paper are joined along the reference line of the paper. Now fold the four corners of the paper into small triangles. After folding the four corners, there are again four corners formed, you have to fold these corners in the similar way. Then there are only two corners remaining along the line which you had used for reference, when you folded the paper. Flip the paper inside out to form the boat. While flipping the paper, you must flip the paper which was folded the very first time. This completes your boat.

Pot
Take a square paper and fold the two opposite corners of the paper such that they fold the paper into half. Hold the triangle formed in such a way, that the longer side of the triangle is at your end. Now draw line from one end of the triangle, that is from your left side to the opposite side of the triangle. Now fold the upper corner of the paper along the line drawn. Unfold this fold and now draw a line perpendicular to the initial line, at 1/3 rd distance from the end, which is held at your side. Fold the paper along this line such that the corner at your side must coincide with the endpoint of the first line. Now, fold the other end which is at the left side, in the same way as above, overlapping the initially folded corner. This forms a pot shape. The upper end of the triangle is folded out, one flap on each side to form a complete pot.

To make things easier for your kid, refer to the printable origami instructions, where there are lines printed on the paper itself, that help the kids in figuring out, where to fold the paper. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a piece of paper and get started!