Cut-and-Play Paper Fortune Teller

You will need

• Plain white or colored paperOne letter-size sheet per fortune teller; have two spares
• ScissorsTo trim the sheet into a square before folding

  Guide the child's hand for the trimming step, or pre-cut the square yourself before they sit down.

• Washable markersSeveral colors for writing fortunes and decorating flaps
• PenciloptionalOptional, for drafting fortunes before inking them in
• RuleroptionalOptional, helps score straight fold lines on thicker paper

Steps

1. 1

   Cut the paper into a square

   Fold one corner of the letter-size sheet diagonally to meet the opposite long edge, making a triangle. The strip of paper below the triangle is the excess. Cut or tear along that bottom edge and open the fold — you now have a square. Set the spare strips aside.

   Tip: An 8-to-9-inch square is ideal; anything smaller makes the pockets tight for small fingers.

2. 2

   Fold corner to corner both ways

   Fold the square in half diagonally, crease firmly, then open it. Fold diagonally the other way, crease firmly, then open it again. You should see an X crease across the whole square. These creases are the guides for everything that follows.

   Tip: Press each crease with a fingernail — sharp folds make the finished toy work more smoothly.

3. 3

   Bring corners to the center

   Turn the square so it sits as a diamond in front of you. Fold each of the four corners into the center point — the intersection of your X crease — creasing each one flat. You now have a smaller square with all four corners meeting neatly in the middle. Flip the whole thing over.

   Tip: If corners don't quite reach the center, show the child that a near-miss still works fine.

4. 4

   Write numbers and colors on the flaps

   While the square is face-down with corners pointing toward you, fold the four corners to the center again, the same way as before. Flip it over once more — you'll see four square flaps. Write one number on each flap (1 through 4), then flip it over again and write one color on each of the four triangular sections.

   Tip: This is a good moment to hand the child the marker and let them choose the colors and numbers.

5. 5

   Write the fortunes inside

   Gently open one triangular flap and write a game forfeit in the hidden section beneath it — something like 'hop on one foot five times' or 'do your best robot walk.' Repeat for all eight hidden sections. Prompt the child for ideas; classic playground dares work perfectly here.

   Tip: Eight forfeits sound like a lot — mix easy ones with silly ones so the child wants to play repeatedly.

6. 6

   Fit fingers and play

   Fold the square in half, then tuck your thumbs and index fingers into the four corner pockets on the underside. Show the child how to ask a friend to pick a color, spell it while opening and closing the fortune teller, pick a number, open and close that many times, then choose another number to reveal a forfeit. Play a round or two together so the child can teach someone else.

   Tip: The fortune teller opens two ways — practice switching between them so the motion feels fluid.

Take it to the table

Materials checklist, the steps and the variations on one Letter page.