• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

What Do We Do All Day logo

  • Start Here
  • Books
    • Classics
      • 20th Century Classics
    • Early Chapter Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Folktales
    • Holiday Books
    • Middle Grade (8-12 years)
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Games
    • Traditional Games
  • Kids Activities
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Literacy & Writing
    • Math
    • Playful Activities
    • Science
    • Toddler
  • Parenting
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Books for kids
  • Games
  • Indoor activities for kids
  • Parenting
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Art and Crafts / Enhance Literacy Skills with Easy Origami Finger Puppets

    March 21, 2019

    Enhance Literacy Skills with Easy Origami Finger Puppets

    3040 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Literacy does not always mean you have to crack open a book. What if I told you that making origami finger puppets for pretend play was a gateway to literacy? Okay, you probably know origami is great for math and problem solving, but literacy? You might need some convincing.

    Well, pretend play promotes creative storytelling and children engage the skills they need to be good readers and writers. Skills like learning cause and effect, developing characterization, motivation and emotion, creating narratives, using language for a purpose. Following directions is a key literacy skill. Even the act of drawing faces on the blank faces of origami puppets leads children to develop a cast of characters with their own personalities, wants and desires, an essential part of storytelling.

    How to make cute origami finger puppets

    The instructions for how to make origami finger puppets for pretend play and theatrical storytelling couldn't be easier. As a bonus, kids are working fine motor skills essential for handwriting. The educational benefits of origami are many!

    Your children will love this simple folding technique that creates a blank platform for their imaginations. They can even turn the paper finger puppets into animals or people with a quick folding switch at the ears. Make a family, a menagerie of pets, the characters from a favorite fairy tale; the possibilities are endless!

    (Note: This post contains affiliate links.)

    Materials for Origami Finger Puppets

    Gather together the following items:

    Square paper. The most convenient way to make origami finger puppets is to use standard size sticky-notes, like Post-its. They come in lots of fun colors so you are not limited to yellow.

    Alternatively, for the colorful finger puppets, We cut 6x6 (approximately) origami paper into four squares.

    Pens or markers. We used flair pens, which are my favorite pens for this type of project. We also love them for zentangle drawing.

    Creative kids! I bet your kids can learn how to make origami finger puppets easily by watching our video, but give them a hand if their fine motor skills need a bit of assistance.

    That's it!

    Origami Finger Puppet Instructions

    It is probably easiest to learn how to make the finger puppets by watching the video instructions. Below the video I have written instructions and photographs if you prefer learning the old fashioned way.

    Step by Step Instructions:

    Take your square piece of paper and fold one side approximately one third the way towards the middle. If using sticky notes, keep the sticky side up, and fold the non-sticky edge first.

    Fold the other side down to match. You should now have a small, flat tube. Do not worry if you are using origami paper and the paper doesn't stick, you do not need to use tape to secure.

    Steps 1-3 for making paper origami finger puppets

    Fold down the top part of the tube down. This will make the head of the puppet, so make it as large or as small as desired.

    Steps 4-6 to make easy paper finger puppets

    Now. Decide if you are going to make a human or an origami animal finger puppet.

    For people, fold the top edges of the head back slightly.

    For animals, fold the top edges of the head forward. This will create "floppy" ears.

    Next, fold the bottom corners of the head up and behind. Now you have a blank face!

    Finally, give your origami finger puppet a face and decorate as you please.

    Make as many as you want. Put on a show, tell a story and have fun!

    TIP: Place the puppets on the end of pencils and use a diy table top puppet theater to put on an extra special dramatic performance!

    TIP: For more finger puppets, check out these cute spring themed printable puppets

    TIP: For more easy origami with a literacy twist, check out these heart bookmarks even origami beginners can make!

    For even more fun, make a puppet theater from a cardboard box where your new origami finger puppets can put on a show!

    Standing group of people and animal origami puppets

    How to make easy origami finger puppets
    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    « Children's Books with Characters on the Autism Spectrum
    April Read Aloud Books to Put a Spring in Your Step »
    3040 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Erica! I believe parents can stay sane without giving their kids an electronic device. Learn how!

    More about me →

    Newsletter

    Join over 15,000 subscribers who said "Yes! I want to unplug my kids!" We'll send you 10 waiting games your kids can play anytime, anywhere. Join here -->

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Site

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and join over 15,000 other families finding ways reduce screen time.

    Other Stuff

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2021 What Creative Media LLC

    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
    Join our email list and as a thank you gift I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games that will make your kids smarter.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.