If your kids have ever wanted to try origami, then we have a really easy tutorial to get them started to make origami whales.
Marisol has become a little obsessed with making origami whales. I don’t even know how many we currently have all over the house, so she helped me put together a tutorial for your kids.
Note: This project was originally created for Rusty and Rosy, however that website has been taken offline so I moved the tutorial over here.
Origami whales
Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper, most often into shapes, animals, birds, and people.
What you need
- Square pieces of paper. That’s it!
- Optional: googly eye or a pencil to draw an eye.
Instructions
Follow the images below to create your own paper whale.
Origami books for kids
- Origami Kids: 32 Projects Designed by and for Kids, by JC Nolan
- Origami Games: Hands-on Fun for Kids, by Joel Stern
- Origami on the Go: 40 Paper-Folding Projects for Kids Who Love to Travel, by Margaret Van Sicklen
- Origami Activities for Children, by Chiyo Araki
- Origami Dinosaurs for Beginners, by John Montroll
There is also a great kit by Creativity for Kids called Awesome Origami, that contains step-by-step instructions for making origami animals and other shapes along with 100 papers for making them.
Benefits of origami for kids
- Following instructions
- Multi-cultural awareness
- Hand-eye co-ordination
- Patience
- Creativity
Have your kids tried their hand at origami?
More paper crafts for kids
Are you looking for more fun and easy paper crafts for kids? They will love these.