Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper to make different shapes. Origami can be simple with just a few paper folds required, or it can be highly detailed and complex. It all depends on what you want to achieve and how much practice you’ve had creating those all-important folds. The more accurate you are, the better. 

So here’s how to make your own basic origami tiger. These instructions are great because they’re not overly complicated and focus only on the tiger’s face rather than the entire body which can be quite tricky to explain. This design is perfect for young children and origami newbies.

Step 1: Source Orange Paper 

As tigers are well-known for their vibrant orange colour, you’ll need a bright shade of paper. Source this and then lay it on a flat surface in a diamond shape. The top point should be facing up and the bottom point should be facing towards you.

Step 2: Start Folding the Head

The first thing you need to do is fold the paper in half by bringing the bottom corner to the top corner to form a triangle. Next, take the right hand side and fold it over to the left to create a new triangle and a noticeable crease. Open the new triangle up so you can see the crease. Next fold down the top of the original triangle approximately two centimetres - this will form the top of the tiger’s head.

Step 3: Make the Ears

Bring the right hand corner up, so that the fold starts at the bottom of the crease you made and the outside edge meets the top of the head. This will form the tiger’s ear. Repeat on the other side until you have what looks a bit like a bat at this stage.

Step 4: Draw the Face

Turn the paper over and you will see you’ve created the basic shape of a tiger face. You can now draw on the facial features and black stripes. Be as creative as you wish, giving your tiger plenty of personality. If you love theatre for preschoolers, you could use The Tiger Who Came To Tea costume for inspiration. 

Step 5: Repeat Using Different Sizes of Paper

Your origami tiger is now complete - how easy was that? Now, why not make a whole tiger family? Use different sizes of card to make a mummy and her cubs or maybe create a male tiger that’s out hunting. If you’ve booked theatre tickets for children’s shows such as The Tiger Who Came To Tea, you could even take your creations with you to get in the mood. These beautiful origami tigers can also be added to greeting cards. Why not gift them to someone who was born in the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac? They can also be used as part of a larger art and crafts project such as a DIY garden tiger safari.

Book your theatre tickets for under 5s today and introduce your little ones to the exciting world of theatre. You never know, it might inspire them to get up on the big stage themselves one day.