Origami Animals: Easy Tutorial for Kids

By Lisa Anderson · October 14, 2026

Why Origami?

Origami develops spatial reasoning, following-directions skills, and patience. It requires nothing but paper, making it perfect for travel, waiting rooms, and rainy days.

Getting Started

Use square paper (6x6 inches is ideal for kids). Origami paper has colored sides that make folds easier to follow. Regular printer paper cut into squares works too.

Project 1: Fortune Teller (Cootie Catcher)

The classic childhood craft. Fold a square in half both ways, fold corners to center, flip and repeat. Write fortunes or dares inside. This teaches the basic folds used in many origami models.

Project 2: Jumping Frog

Start with a rectangle. Make accordion folds at one end for the legs. Fold the body into a triangle, then fold the bottom up to create the spring mechanism. Press and release to make it jump!

Project 3: Simple Dog Face

Fold a square diagonally into a triangle. Fold the top corners down for ears. Fold the bottom point up slightly for the chin. Draw eyes, nose, and tongue. Adorable and takes 2 minutes.

Project 4: Paper Airplane (Dart)

Not technically origami but uses the same folding skills. Fold a rectangle in half lengthwise, fold top corners to the center line, fold the edges in again. This creates a fast, accurate flyer.

Project 5: Butterfly

Fold a square in half both ways and diagonally. Collapse into a triangle (waterbomb base). Fold corners up to the top point. Flip and fold the point down past the edge. Open the wings gently.