The Super-Easy, Best Paper Airplane Ever

The easiest, best paper airplane tutorial ever! Folding paper airplanes is one of the kids’ favorite activites, and this was Dad’s go-to paper airplane growing up. Try ito out!

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Lately, I’ve been focused on meal planning, new recipes, and getting ready for Christmas. All of the sudden it hit me, Christmas is toward the beginning of winter break this year. That means we have almost two and a half weeks with no school, most of that time after Christmas.

What are we going to do? How can I keep the kids  occupied, not kill each other, and not drive me insane for two and a half weeks?? Needless to say, much list-making and calendar planning is inevitable.

The brainstorm of planning made it apparent to me I have events and basic schedules. What I really need are simple, fun activities to interest the kids for a good length of time at home.

Meaning, we need activities they can repeat and not get bored with.

This easy and best paper airplane plan and game is one such activity. My son (5 years old) rarely tires of it, although he can be found making paper airplanes at home, Grandma’s, and even at church (oops). We call this the Georgian airplane because it was the paper airplane my husband grew up making as a kid in Georgia (the country), and let me tell you it can fly!

Supplies to fold the best paper airplane ever

Don’t you love how easy paper airplanes are to make once you know how? Also, you really need only two things.

1. You, yourself, and two hands
2. Paper, such as this. I like bright colors, but white works just as well.

Best Paper Airplane Ever

First, take out a letter-sized rectangle piece of paper. You can use color, white, or whatever you happen to have on hand. Fold it lengthwise in half to make a longer rectangle or what we call a “hot dog” shape.

Second, open the “hotdog” back up and fold both top corners to meet at the middle line. You’ll make two triangles and a pointy tip.

Third, turn the paper over and fold the triangle backward to lay flat down on top of the larger rectangle.

Then, with the triangle tip pointing down, take the top, left corner and fold it to the center line about an inch above the tip of the triangle. Do the same on the right side.

After that, identify the point on the large triangle and fold it up as far as it will go without folding the sides you’ve just folded to the center.

Then, pick up your airplane and fold it in half on the existing crease.

From there, you’re going to make the wings. Fold the line of the top wing down to exactly meet the folded center line. Turn the airplane over and repeat on the other side.

That’s it!! Lastly, go over all the folds with your fingernail to make them as crisp as possible. The airplanes fly so much better if they have well-creased folds. Then you are ready to fly!

Best paper airplane games

1. A basic game of catch. Throw the paper airplane back and forth between two people.
2. Point out targets around the house and make a sort of frisbee golf game using airplanes.
3. Make your own target out of a piece of poster board with numbers. Set a number goal, and the first person to get that many points wins. Have the players take turns and each only throw one paper airplane at a time.
4. Have the kids make a paper airplane hanger out of paper or blocks.
5. 100 Airplanes game. This is a variation on the Japanese paper crane tradition, but I made this one up. Tell the kids they have to make 100 paper airplanes and give them away as gifts. If they make a present 100 airplanes to other people they will have good luck and spread joy.
6. Paper airplane battle between two sideways card tables.
7. Let the children be creative and make their own stories with the airplanes. Are you at an airport? Military base? What are the airplanes’ names?

Good luck!

This is such a fun, traditional activity, and keeps my son entertained for HOURS. Maybe not hours at a time, but a good 20 minutes here and there fairly often. Do you have some other simple activities for your kids so you can get a chore done or have a moment of peace? I love this kind of thing because they can do it themselves, and at the same time, it avoids screen time.

Leave me some comments below with other fun, easy activities!!

More awesome indoor kids activities

1. 7 Awesome Activities to Beat the Winter Blues
2. Kids’ DIY Christmas Tree Ornament
3. Kids’s Travel Journal
4. The Best Middle Grade Books to Inspire Wanderlust