Origami for Children with Special Needs

Use origami for children with special needs. Folding paper builds fine motor strength and precision and is a whole lot of fun!

Table of Contents

Origami for Children with Special Needs

I am passionate about bringing learning opportunitites to our kids with special needs. I am constantly looking for new ways to make learning fun and exciting for kids who often have trouble staying motivated to complete the task at hand. One of my favorite ways for building fine motor skills is by using origami for children with special needs.

I don’t know if other people are doing this or if you have tried it at home with your little one. (If you have, please let me know! I would LOVE to hear about your experience.)

I enjoy making origami myself and had the idea one day to try it with the kids at my learning center. It worked like a charm! The kids were really interested in choosing their sheet of paper from the many different colorful options.

They were also excited by the different patterns and shapes on some of the different papers I presented to them. They got a kick out of folding the paper and creating something new with it.

Origami is not the easiest way to build fine motor strength. I would recommend some prerequisite activities to build your child’s fine motor skills first. However, it is a great option for kids who have already been working on fine motor skills, have progressed to another level and may be interested in adding some new, fun activities to their repertoire of fine motor building exercises.

How to use origami for children with special needs

You can work on lots of different skills using origami!

To build fine motor strength and precision :

Using an index finger to fold.
Using two fingers to fold.
Using a full hand to fold.

To build visual imitation skills :

(We have included Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. You can read our disclosures here.)

Following a model (such as a photograph) to do the same. For example, use a children’s origami book to show your child a model and help him or her create the same design.
Following a model (such as an object) to do the same. For example, create a jumping frog yourself, keep it next to you and your child on the table and help your child make his or her own according to the physical model.

To build role play skills :

Create different characters (a frog and a rabbit?!) and have them take turns jumping/hopping, turning, speaking, etc.!
Make different foods out of origami and set up a grocery shop.

To work on following instructions :

Buy an origami for kids book or make your own photo instructions and teach your child to make an awesome creature, step-by-step!

Tools you need to make origami for children with autism

Easy Origami for Kids Book – this book features step by step instructions to make origami with children.
Visual models – I shared 3 easy origami activities to get started teaching special needs learners in the post Easy Origami for Building Fine Motor Skills.