Children's Folded Paper Games

Fortune Tellers

• Kids love to play with paper fortune tellers, and they're versatile too. To make one, you just fold a square paper into quarters and then unfold it so that you can see the four squares. Then fold the four corners into the middle, using the crease marks as a guide, to form a smaller square. Then turn the paper over and repeat this step again. Fold the remaining (much smaller) square into quarters again, unfold it, and let your child stick her two thumbs and forefingers into the four square flaps on the back of the fortune teller.

  Children can use this craft as a "cootie"̵1;a little animal whose mouth opens and closes. They can draw on the cootie's face with markers or decorate the cootie in any way they wish. Alternatively, they can draw a color on the outside of each square flap, write a number on the outside of each triangular flap (on the other side of the fortune teller), and write a fortune (e.g., You will meet a special person today) on the inside of each triangular flap. (Look at the video on the link in the Resources section of this article for directions on how your child can use the fortune teller to tell other people's fortunes.)

Paper Airplane Races

• Kids can also make their own paper airplanes with folded paper and then race their airplanes. This game is especially fun if they adjust their airplanes after each race to try to improve their flying capabilities.

  To make a simple paper airplane, just fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise, open it, and then fold two of the corners downward against the center crease. Then repeat this step with the newly formed corners (which are now farther down on the paper). Flip the paper over and fold it in half along the center crease. Then make a wing by folding the top flap back in the opposite direction, leaving less than half an inch still folded downward. Repeat with the other wing. Children can then race their airplanes against each other, tweaking the design after each race as necessary.

Paper Football

• Paper football is a favorite folded paper game for kids. To make a paper football, cut a piece of paper in half lengthwise. Then fold up one corner to form a triangle. Continue folding this triangle up the piece of paper over and over again until you are nearing the end of the strip. Tuck the remaining paper into the flap on the triangle to complete the paper football.

  You can then use the football to try to make a field goal by flicking it with your index or middle finger. To make a field goal, have a friend hold up his thumbs and forefingers into the shape of two connected "L"s, and try to flick the football through the two index fingers. If you'd like, you can keep score and compete against your friend.