Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher Origami for Kids is about to become your new favorite craft! Imagine a cute little teddy bear face peeking out from the flaps of a classic fortune teller. That’s exactly what we’re making today – a super adorable and interactive origami creation. This project is perfect for complete beginners, especially little hands aged 6 and up, and it only takes about 10-15 minutes to fold from start to finish. Whether you’re looking for a fun rainy-day activity, a sweet homemade gift for a friend, or just a charming decoration, this teddy bear cootie catcher is the answer. Get ready to learn some simple yet effective folding techniques that will have you creating these smiling bears in no time. Let’s dive in and have some easy-peasy, fun-filled folding fun together!

Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher – Origami for Kids – Easy Peasy and Fun

Hello budding origami artists! Today, we’re going to embark on a delightful adventure to create a charming Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher. This isn’t just any cootie catcher; it’s a cuddly bear friend that can hold little secrets or fortunes. It’s perfect for a rainy afternoon, a classroom activity, or just a fun way to pass the time. We’ll go through each step slowly and clearly, so don’t worry if you’re new to origami – we’re aiming for easy peasy and fun!

Choosing Your Paper

The right paper makes all the difference in origami. For this Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher, I recommend a few things:

Type: Standard origami paper is ideal. It’s designed to fold crisply and hold its shape well. If you don’t have dedicated origami paper, printer paper is a workable alternative, though it might be a little thicker and creasier.
Weight: For beginners, a medium-weight paper is best. It’s not too thin to tear, and not too thick to make sharp folds.
Size: A good starting size is 6 inches by 6 inches (about 15 cm by 15 cm). This size is manageable for little hands and allows for clear folds. You can always go bigger or smaller once you’re comfortable.
Single or Double Sided: This is where we can get creative! For the Teddy Bear effect, I love using paper that is colored on one side and white on the other. This way, the inside of our cootie catcher will be white (perfect for writing fortunes or drawing), and the outside will have our lovely bear colors. If you use double-sided paper, make sure the colors you want for the bear are on the same side of the sheet.

Mastering the Base Folds

Before we dive into the Teddy Bear specifics, let’s make sure we’re comfortable with a couple of fundamental origami folds. These are the building blocks for so many models, including our cootie catcher.

The first fundamental fold we need is a good, crisp **valley fold**. Imagine you’re folding a piece of paper in half. A valley fold is when you bring two edges or corners together, and the crease forms a “valley” shape, pointing downwards when viewed from the front. The key to a clean valley fold is to align your edges or corners perfectly before you make the crease. Once aligned, run your fingernail or a bone folder firmly along the fold line to make it sharp.

The second fundamental fold is a **mountain fold**. This is the opposite of a valley fold. Instead of the crease pointing down, it points up, like the peak of a mountain. We’ll primarily be using valley folds for this cootie catcher, but understanding the concept of mountain folds is good for future origami adventures.

The Fold Sequence: Step-by-Step

Alright, let’s get folding! Grab your paper, and remember to make each fold as neat and precise as you can.

1. **Start with your paper in front of you, white side up (if using single-sided paper).** We want the colored side to be the outside of our cootie catcher later.

2. **Fold the paper in half from left to right.** Bring the left edge all the way over to meet the right edge. Make sure the corners align perfectly. Crease firmly down the middle. You should now have a long, skinny rectangle.

3. **Unfold the paper.** You should now see a vertical crease down the center of your paper.

4. **Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.** Bring the top edge all the way down to meet the bottom edge. Align the corners precisely. Crease firmly across the middle. You should now have a shorter, wider rectangle.

5. **Unfold the paper.** Now you should have a horizontal crease across the middle, intersecting the vertical crease you made earlier. These two creases divide your paper into four equal squares.

6. **Bring the top edge down to meet the center horizontal crease.** Align the top edge perfectly with the center line. Crease firmly.

7. **Bring the bottom edge up to meet the center horizontal crease.** Align the bottom edge perfectly with the center line. Crease firmly. Your paper should now look like a closed envelope, with two flaps at the top and two at the bottom.

8. **Flip the entire piece of paper over.**

9. **Bring the left edge over to meet the center vertical crease.** Align the left edge perfectly with the center line. Crease firmly.

10. **Bring the right edge over to meet the center vertical crease.** Align the right edge perfectly with the center line. Crease firmly. Your paper should now look like a smaller, closed envelope.

11. **Fold the entire piece in half vertically.** Bring the left edge over to meet the right edge. Crease firmly down the center. You should have a long, skinny rectangle again.

12. **Now, we need to create the “pockets” for the cootie catcher.** Look at the open edge of your folded rectangle. You should see four flaps. We need to slide our fingers into these flaps. Take your index finger and thumb of one hand, and gently separate the top two flaps. Do the same with your other hand and the bottom two flaps.

13. **Gently push your fingers into the spaces between the flaps.** As you push, the paper will naturally start to open up into a square shape. You want to push your fingers in until the center point of the paper comes together, forming the familiar cootie catcher shape.

14. **Flatten the square.** Once you have the basic shape, gently press down on the four points (which were originally the corners of your paper) to flatten it into a neat square. You should now have a square with four “pockets” underneath.

Transforming into a Teddy Bear!

Now that we have our cootie catcher base, let’s give it that adorable teddy bear look.

15. **With the cootie catcher open like a diamond (points facing you, top, right, bottom, left), identify the four points that are closed. These are the outside points of your cootie catcher.** We are going to fold these points inwards to create the bear’s ears.

16. **Take the top point (which will become one of the bear’s ears) and fold it down so that its tip meets the center of the diamond.** Make sure the fold is precise. Crease firmly.

17. **Take the left point and fold it inwards so its tip meets the center.** Crease firmly.

18. **Take the right point and fold it inwards so its tip meets the center.** Crease firmly.

19. **Take the bottom point and fold it inwards so its tip meets the center.** Crease firmly. You should now have a smaller diamond shape.

20. **Flip the entire model over.**

21. **Repeat steps 16-19 on this side.** Take each of the four points and fold them inwards so their tips meet the center. You will now have a much smaller square shape.

22. **Now, carefully insert your fingers into the pockets on this side (the side with all the folded points).** Gently push your fingers in and open up the cootie catcher again. You’ll notice that the folded-in points now form the bear’s ears on the outside of the flaps.

23. **To finish the bear face, draw or color on the inside flaps.** You’ll have four flaps on the outside, which are the bear’s ears. On the inside of these flaps, you’ll see the colored side of your paper. This is where we can draw the bear’s face! Draw two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. You can also add little buttons or a bow tie if you like!

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

It’s totally normal to make a few mistakes when you’re starting out. Here are two common places beginners get a bit stuck, and how to sail through them:

Imperfect Alignment: This is probably the most common issue. When you’re folding edges to meet edges or corners to meet corners, if they aren’t lined up perfectly, your final cootie catcher will be a bit wonky and won’t open or close smoothly.

How to avoid: Before you make any crease, take an extra second to ensure your edges or corners are precisely aligned. Run your finger along the edge you’re aligning to feel for any gaps or overhangs. Don’t be afraid to unfold and refold if it’s not quite right. Patience is key here!

Squashed or Mushy Folds: If you don’t crease your folds firmly, the paper can become floppy and difficult to work with. This is especially true when creating the cootie catcher pockets.

How to avoid: After you’ve aligned your paper, use your fingernail or a ruler edge to press down firmly along the entire length of the fold. Make those creases sharp and defined! This will make the whole process of opening and closing your cootie catcher much easier and more satisfying.

Varying Your Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher

Once you’ve mastered the basic Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher, let’s talk about making it even more special!

Size: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different paper sizes! Start with 6×6 inches, but try 8×8 inches for a larger bear or 4×4 inches for a tiny one. Just remember that with smaller paper, the details for the face might be harder to draw.
Paper Pattern: While we used solid colors to highlight the bear features, you can also use patterned paper! Imagine a teddy bear with a floral pattern for its ears, or stripes for its body. Just make sure the pattern you want for the bear’s “fur” is on the side that will be visible on the outside.
Color: Of course, the fun of paper crafts is the color! Try classic teddy bear browns, but also consider making pink bears, blue bears, or even rainbow bears! You can also use different colored paper for the inside flaps where you draw the face – perhaps a lighter shade for the bear’s muzzle.

Displaying or Gifting Your Creation

Your Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher is more than just a toy; it’s a little piece of art! Here are some ideas for what to do with your adorable creations:

Playtime Fun: Fill the inside pockets with numbers or colors. For each number called, the user opens and closes the cootie catcher accordingly. Then, they choose a color to reveal their fortune or a fun activity.
Party Favors: These make fantastic party favors for birthdays or playdates. Kids love taking them home as a fun and interactive memento.
Desk Buddies: If you’ve made a slightly larger one and the folds are very crisp, you can gently pop it open and it might even stand up a little! It can be a cute decoration on a desk or bookshelf.
Greeting Cards: Attach your cootie catcher to a handmade card for an extra special touch. It’s a gift and an activity all in one!
Storytelling Prop: Use the cootie catcher as a prop for storytelling. Each section can represent a character, a setting, or an event in your tale.

I hope you had as much fun making your Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher as I do! Remember, the most important ingredient in origami is patience and a willingness to try. Happy folding!

Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher - Origami for Kids - Easy Peasy and Fun

Conclusion

Congratulations on folding your very own Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher! We hope you had a blast creating this easy peasy and fun origami friend. Don’t worry if your first attempt isn’t perfect – every fold is practice, and you’ll get even better with each try. We encourage you to share your adorable teddy bear creations with friends and family! For a fun challenge, why not try adding a small button nose or drawing on little eyes? And when you’re ready for more paper adventures, explore our other exciting origami projects. Happy folding!

Easy Origami Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher for Kids