Easy Origami for Kids!

Some of you may noticed that I have been *but a little busy* over on YouTube lately…. YouTube is a GREAT platform to share Origami How Tos and Paper Crafts. I find that step by step origami for kids photos are so much harder to follow, than easy origami for kids video tutorials (our Corner Bookmark Designs have been particularly popular!!). So I have started to create a whole set of origami videos for beginners. They focus on the easiest and most “classic” paper crafts for kids – and the majority of them should be “doable” for kids on their own. Of course, I have also got some “intermediate” origami projects on my YouTube channel (some shared at the very end for you to browse!), but this post today, focuses on the absolute easiest origami projects for beginners. A great way to get kids into paper crafting and excited about origami! I hope you love these cute and easy origami for kids ideas as much as we do!

There is also a difference between origami (which is uses a square piece of paper and folding techniques) and kirigami (which can use any shaped paper and requires a little cutting to0). But I find when it comes to kids, doing a mix of the two is best. We also like to embellish our paper crafts with pens or sticking on details such as LARGE eyes. Let’s have a peak at these easy Origami for Kids projects!!

I have grouped these projects by animal, practical, decorative and stationery… but we also have a great section for Christmas Paper Crafts (which goes beyond Christmas Origami Projects), that you may like to browse. If you are interested in other seasonal paper craft themes, please do let me know!

This easy origami for kids article was first published in Feb 2016 – republished and updated regularly for your convenience!

STOCK UP ON ORIGAMI PAPER

Before you begin, it is great to stock up one some lovely Origami Paper or colourful paper pads (not construction paper, but paper that also fits into printers, it is lighter and better for folding)! We like to use a mixture of plain colours and pattern paper. You can get them quickly and easy online!!!

Get similar paper here:

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Step by Step Origami for Kids

Easy Animal Origami for Kids

This little easy Origami bunny is probably one of the best Origami Projects for kids that you can start out on (well these and the tulips, but I find that the bunnies have more appeal to both boys and girls – say what you like.. but I do find boys and girls have slightly different preferences).

Another easy Paper Bunny Origami – this rabbit is still an EASY make for kids, but probably a good “next step” from the previous slightly (!) easy bunny we shared above!

We love these ADORABLE Bunny Bookmarks are actually part of a SERIES of corner bookmarks on both my blog and YouTube channel. My YouTube viewers are forever asking for new Corner Bookmark designs.. and so I oblige! 🙂 if there is a book corner design you would like to see, leave me a comment on YouTube and I will see what I can do!

Not wanting to bore you to death with all our corner bookmarks…… but here is another example of our most popular bookmarks today: easy monster bookmarks. Perfect. Do check out the rest of them too!

You can have lots of fun with these Jumping Frog Origami – this is the easiest of all frog designs and they are GREAT fun to make JUMP!

Easy Fish Origami

As cat owners and cat lovers, we needed to have a go at these super simple Origami Cats! My kids adore them and they are as easy as the ever popular Origami Bunnies shared above.

Next steps? Check out these STANDING cute origami cats!

Similarly we have some cute Origami Dogs – turn them into the Puppy Emoji?

Check out this fabulous Whale Origami:

Aren’t these Origami Whales simply the cutest? Nice and easy too! Promise!!

Or how about these adorable Easy Origami Dogs? If you love Scotties, you will love these little guys. Great as an on the go paper toy!

Cutest little Origami Penguins – these double up nicely as Greeting Cards or Thank You notes

These little Paper Butterflies are still classes as “easy” in my books, however, they are better for the a child that feels a LITTLE confident in making origami crafts already. They are easy, but just need a little more skills! DO try them, as I think these Origami Butterflies make a great decoration.

EVEN easier are these Origami Butterflies! Aren’t they just so pretty?!

We haev another great Origami Butterflies pattern here

Here is an Origami classic – and a fantastic Origami project for beginners – The Origami Swan, it very much has that “classic” Origami look about it and introduces some basic folds (i.e. the head) that you will find in many origami projects for kids. So do take a look at this easy paper swan. It is cute and teaches you great skills!

Super cute and EASY Origami Bats. The kids will love these!

Decorative Origami for Kids

Actually, ALL origami is decorative, including MANY of the lovely ideas above, but I had to somehow group these sections to make browsing easier…. Maybe I should have done it by Origami season!!! Ha.

We adore these origami tulips. The head of the tulip is SUPER easy for kids to make. You can make just the head and then stick it on a card and draw the rest, creating a wonderful tulip collage – perfect for mother’s day. The stems are still easy, but I would say a “next step” for a child, who is a little bit more confident in the basics of origami!

I love this Paper Star Wreath – my 10yrs old neighbour taught me how to make this Origami Star, which doubles up nicely as a wreath too. Make it in any colour combination and it looks simply wonderful!

We love these little Origami Christmas Tree – they are definitely for a slightly more confident child, but once you have the hang of it, it is super easy and fun to make.. and you will be making 100s all day long!

Play Origami for Kids

These are the Origami Projects for kids that you can then PLAY with!

I ADORE these oh so easy Paper House. This is a craft from childhood memories and is super duper easy to make.. you can then decorate and play. We LOVED making it as part of a “3 Little Pigs Play Set” we created.

A nice take on the very simple paper cups origami. These Origami Paper Cups can be used in SO MANY different ways – from this simple ball toss game, to actually drinking water from them, to hanging 24 in a row and making your own Origami Advent calendar.. so many possibilities and one easy paper cup Origami craft!

These are some very special CHRISTMAS COOTIE CATCHERS. You can either print out our free Christmas printables… or watch the video and make your own “plain” Origami fortune teller that you can decorate and write in yourself! Yes.. this is most DEFINITELY a childhood class and every child should learn to make one!

Another childhood classic origami pattern are these adorable little Origami Boats or Paper Boats. This is one of the first origami patterns I taught my children (eventhough many of the above origami for kids ideas are easier), because I have a personal strong association with these from my childhood… you can make them, any time, anywhere and have lots of playful fun! Love.

A little harder, but still manageable are these DIY Paper Water Bombs. So much summer fun!!

Stationery Origami for Kids

Practical origami projects that you can use!

Fabulous Paper Box! Great for small gifts and trinkets!

Similarly we have a fabulous rectangular Origami Box for you to check out and try too!

We do love these cute mini concertina photo albums! Adorable!

Cute and easy Origami Rings!

These little heart bookcorners “technically” are more Kirigami can Origami.. but they are so cute and again, so easy, that I think they need including in an round up of easy origami for kids!!! You don’t HAVE to use them as bookmarks, again, these would look really nice on a DIY Valentine’s Day Card or similar!

Similarly there is a TINY bit of cutting involved in these fabulous MINI NOTEBOOKS. Making them Kirigami and not origami.. but no glue needed! Aren’t they fun.

Adorable Cute Origami Envelopes – decorated as Winter Animals

These are super simple Origami Envelope Chicks!!! Write a letter, fold your envelope, decorate and post!! Job done. And OH SO CUTE!

Whilst on the lovely Paper Owl Crafts.. check out these oh so cute Paper Owl Pencil Toppers! Darling! They double up nicely as Owl Finger Puppets too!

I ADORE these 3D Paper Star Bowls – they look great, but are also practical!

More fabulous Origami for Kids from sites we love!

From sites we love…. we adore these origami faces from Pink Stripey Socks. Aren’t they simply fun!?

Fantastic little Origami Mushrooms. Aren’t they adorable? The little worms are just the best little detail. Check out the wonderful Krokotak for full step by step origami for kids instructions!