Unleash Your Inner Child: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Cootie Catcher (Origami Fortune Teller)

Remember those playful days of childhood, filled with laughter, imaginative games, and the thrill of predicting the future with a simple paper creation? That’s the magic of the cootie catcher, also known as an origami fortune teller! This classic paper game is not only a fun activity but also a fantastic way to spark creativity, practice fine motor skills, and engage in lighthearted fun with friends and family.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of making your own cootie catcher, step by step, complete with clear instructions and helpful tips. Get ready to rediscover the joy of this timeless craft!

## What You’ll Need:

* **A square piece of paper:** Origami paper is ideal, but any square piece of paper will work. The size will determine the final size of your cootie catcher. A standard 6×6 inch piece of paper is a good starting point.
* **Pens, markers, or crayons:** For decorating the cootie catcher with colors, numbers, and fortunes.
* **Scissors (optional):** If your paper isn’t already square, you’ll need scissors to trim it.

## Getting Started: Making the Square (If Necessary)

If you’re not starting with a square piece of paper, follow these steps to create one:

1. **Start with a rectangular piece of paper:** Place the paper horizontally in front of you.
2. **Fold a triangle:** Take the top-right corner of the paper and fold it down so that it aligns perfectly with the left edge of the paper. Crease the fold firmly.
3. **Trim the excess:** You’ll now have a triangle with a rectangular strip of paper below it. Use scissors to carefully cut off this rectangular strip along the edge of the triangle. Discard the strip. (Save it for scrap paper arts and crafts!)
4. **Unfold:** Unfold the triangle. You now have a perfect square.

## Step-by-Step Instructions: Folding Your Cootie Catcher

Now that you have your square piece of paper, let’s begin the folding process:

**Step 1: The First Folds (Creating the Center)**

1. **Fold in half (vertically):** Fold the square in half, bringing the top edge down to meet the bottom edge. Crease the fold firmly. This creates a rectangle.
2. **Unfold:** Unfold the paper back into a square.
3. **Fold in half (horizontally):** Fold the square in half again, this time bringing the left edge over to meet the right edge. Crease the fold firmly. This creates another rectangle.
4. **Unfold:** Unfold the paper back into a square. You should now have two creases running through the center of the square, dividing it into four equal squares.

**Step 2: Folding the Corners to the Center**

1. **Fold the top-right corner to the center:** Take the top-right corner of the square and fold it inwards so that the point of the corner meets the exact center of the square, where the two creases intersect. Crease the fold firmly.
2. **Fold the top-left corner to the center:** Repeat the process with the top-left corner, folding it inwards to meet the center. Crease the fold firmly.
3. **Fold the bottom-right corner to the center:** Fold the bottom-right corner inwards to meet the center. Crease the fold firmly.
4. **Fold the bottom-left corner to the center:** Finally, fold the bottom-left corner inwards to meet the center. Crease the fold firmly. You should now have a smaller square, with all four corners folded into the middle.

**Step 3: Turning it Over and Repeating**

1. **Flip the paper over:** Carefully turn the entire square over so that the folded corners are facing down.
2. **Fold the corners to the center again:** Just like before, fold each of the four corners of the square inwards so that they meet in the center. Crease each fold firmly. You should now have an even smaller square with all eight corners folded into the middle.

**Step 4: Creating the Pockets**

1. **Fold in half (vertically):** Fold the square in half, bringing the top edge down to meet the bottom edge. Crease the fold firmly.
2. **Unfold:** Unfold the paper back into a square.
3. **Fold in half (horizontally):** Fold the square in half again, this time bringing the left edge over to meet the right edge. Crease the fold firmly. Crease the fold firmly.
4. **Unfold:** Unfold the paper back into a square. You should now have creases that make it easy to manipulate the paper.
5. **Tuck Your Fingers In:** On one side of the partially folded square, locate the four smaller square flaps. Gently lift each flap and insert your thumb and index finger underneath each one. Do the same on the other side. It may take a moment to get the hang of it, gently adjust and manipulate the paper so that the four points form a diamond shape on top and bottom when opened and closed.

**Step 5: Finishing Touches**

1. **Shape the Cootie Catcher:** Gently manipulate the paper to shape the cootie catcher. You should be able to open and close it easily by pushing your thumbs and index fingers together.
2. **Practice:** Practice opening and closing the cootie catcher. If it feels stiff, gently work the folds to loosen them up.

## Decorating Your Cootie Catcher: The Fun Part!

Now that your cootie catcher is folded, it’s time to decorate it! This is where you can get creative and personalize your fortune teller.

**1. Adding Colors or Numbers to the Outer Squares:**

* **Colors:** On the outer squares (the ones you see when the cootie catcher is closed), write or draw different colors. You can use crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Popular choices include red, blue, green, yellow, pink, purple, orange, and black.
* **Numbers:** Instead of colors, you can write numbers on the outer squares. Choose numbers that are easy to count to (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

**2. Adding Numbers to the Inner Triangles:**

* Open each section of the cootie catcher to reveal the eight inner triangles (the ones hidden under the outer squares).
* Write a different number on each of these triangles. You can use any numbers you like, but it’s common to use numbers from 1 to 8.

**3. Writing Fortunes Under the Numbers:**

* Lift each triangle to reveal the space underneath. This is where you’ll write the fortunes!
* Write a different fortune under each number. Fortunes can be anything you want – funny predictions, words of encouragement, silly tasks, or even compliments. Get creative and have fun with it!

## Fortune Ideas to Get You Started:

Here are some fortune ideas to inspire you:

* “You will have a great day!”
* “A surprise is coming your way.”
* “You will meet someone interesting.”
* “Good luck is on your side.”
* “You will achieve your goals.”
* “A new adventure awaits you.”
* “You are a kind and generous person.”
* “You will make a new friend.”
* “Sing a song at the top of your lungs!”
* “Give someone a compliment.”
* “Do a silly dance!”
* “Tell a joke.”
* “You will find something you lost.”
* “You will eat something delicious today.”
* “Help someone in need.”
* “Read a good book.”
* “You’re a star!”
* “Your creativity will shine.”
* “Share a smile with a stranger.”
* “A dream will come true.”

## How to Play the Cootie Catcher Game:

Now that your cootie catcher is ready, it’s time to play the game!

1. **Ask someone to pick a color or number:** Have the other person choose one of the colors or numbers displayed on the outer squares of the cootie catcher.
2. **Spell out the color or count to the number:**
* If they chose a color, open and close the cootie catcher once for each letter in the color’s name. For example, if they chose “Blue,” you would open and close it four times (B-L-U-E). Alternate between opening it horizontally and vertically with each letter.
* If they chose a number, open and close the cootie catcher that many times, alternating between horizontal and vertical movements.
3. **Show the inner numbers:** After spelling the color or counting to the number, display the inside of the cootie catcher, revealing the eight numbers on the inner triangles.
4. **Ask them to pick another number:** Have the person choose one of the numbers they see.
5. **Count to the number again:** Open and close the cootie catcher the number of times they chose, alternating between horizontal and vertical movements.
6. **Ask them to pick a final number:** Display the inner numbers again and have them choose one last number.
7. **Reveal the fortune:** Lift the flap corresponding to the number they chose and read the fortune aloud.

**Example:**

* You ask your friend to pick a color, and they say “Red.”
* You spell out “Red” (R-E-D), opening and closing the cootie catcher three times, alternating directions.
* You show them the inside with the numbers and they pick the number “5.”
* You count to five, opening and closing the cootie catcher five times, alternating directions.
* You show them the inside numbers again and they choose “2.”
* You lift the flap with the number 2 and read the fortune underneath: “You will have a great day!”

## Tips and Tricks for a Perfect Cootie Catcher:

* **Use thin paper:** Thinner paper is easier to fold and manipulate. Origami paper or lightweight printer paper works best.
* **Crease firmly:** Creasing each fold firmly will help your cootie catcher hold its shape and make it easier to open and close.
* **Be precise:** Try to be as precise as possible when folding the corners to the center. This will ensure that your cootie catcher is symmetrical and works smoothly.
* **Practice makes perfect:** Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t perfect. Keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
* **Get creative with the fortunes:** The more creative and personalized your fortunes are, the more fun the game will be.
* **Decorate with stickers or glitter:** Add extra flair to your cootie catcher with stickers, glitter, or other embellishments.
* **Make a themed cootie catcher:** Create cootie catchers with different themes, such as animals, holidays, or your favorite characters.
* **Use different sizes of paper:** Experiment with different sizes of paper to create cootie catchers of varying sizes.

## Variations and Fun Ideas:

* **Truth or Dare Cootie Catcher:** Instead of fortunes, write truth or dare questions under the numbers for a more interactive game.
* **Compliment Cootie Catcher:** Fill the cootie catcher with compliments to spread positivity and boost someone’s self-esteem.
* **Joke Cootie Catcher:** Write jokes under the numbers for a hilarious game that will have everyone laughing.
* **Learning Cootie Catcher:** Use the cootie catcher to quiz someone on facts or vocabulary words. Write questions under the numbers and the answers on the flaps.
* **Storytelling Cootie Catcher:** Use the cootie catcher to generate ideas for a story. Write different story elements (character, setting, plot) under the numbers and combine them to create a unique narrative.
* **Character Trait Cootie Catcher:** Use this to determine or brainstorm character traits for an upcoming roleplay.

## Beyond the Game: Educational Benefits

While primarily a source of amusement, crafting and playing with cootie catchers offer surprising educational benefits:

* **Fine Motor Skills Development:** The intricate folding process enhances dexterity and coordination, crucial for developing fine motor skills in children (and maintaining them in adults!).
* **Spatial Reasoning:** Understanding how the paper folds and transforms requires spatial reasoning, a valuable skill in STEM fields.
* **Mathematical Concepts:** Creating the square base and dividing it into equal sections introduces basic geometric principles.
* **Literacy and Vocabulary:** Writing fortunes encourages creative writing and expands vocabulary.
* **Social Interaction:** Playing the game with others promotes communication, turn-taking, and social interaction skills.

## Cootie Catchers: A Timeless Tradition

The cootie catcher, or origami fortune teller, is more than just a paper game; it’s a cherished piece of childhood nostalgia. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for sparking creativity, fostering social interaction, and providing hours of fun. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can create your own cootie catcher and share the joy of this timeless craft with others. So, gather your paper, pens, and a sense of adventure, and get ready to unlock the magic of the cootie catcher!

Now that you know how to make a cootie catcher, gather your supplies and start folding! Share your creations and fortune ideas in the comments below. Happy folding!