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How to Make Paper Fortune Tellers for Fun

Cheap, festive, and just a little bit addictive, paper fortune tellers can also be a bit confusing - do they work? We've got the answers and the free printables!

What are paper fortune tellers?

You may remember folding simple paper fortune tellers in elementary school. My childhood friends and I used to fold them from notebook paper. We called the folded paper games fortune tellers because we pretended they had a sixth sense and used them to "predict" the number of children we would have, determine our true love, or pinpoint future careers.

The History of the Paper Fortune Teller

What are paper fortune tellers? Fortune tellers are a simple paper game made by folding a square of paper into a moveable device with 8 flaps that are filled with messages or “fortunes.”

Where did paper fortune tellers come from? The exact origin of the cootie catcher is unknown (some claim they came from 17th century Europe while others believe they are a Japanese origami invention) but it’s safe to say that they were popular with children all over the world by the early 20th century.

What are fortune tellers called? Never heard of paper fortune tellers? You may have called them cootie catchers, salt cellars, or chatterboxes depending on where you lived as a child.

This back to school paper fortune teller is a conversation starting game for elementary school students and adults. Use the free printable to get kids talking about their back to school concerns and get a glimpse into their brains. Cootie catchers/ fortune tellers are a easy back to school activity that kids love.

Fortune Tellers for Kids

When my kids entered elementary school I was reintroduced to origami fortune tellers and was amazed at the continued popularity of these simple paper crafts! As a busy mom, I appreciate easy crafts that give me time to interact with my kiddos.

Fortune tellers are fun for many reasons:

  • They're an easy way to keep kids off of electronic devices!
  • They teach simple origami folding skills!
  • They're full of fun surprises kids love!
  • They're perfect for classroom parties and holiday celebrations!

How to Make Fortune Tellers for Kids

I turned the fortune tellers of my past into printable crafts that are fun for parents & kids (or teachers & students) by replacing the silly "psychic readings" we wrote as kids with silly jokes, conversation-starting questions, and even random acts of kindness.

The themes of the printable cootie catchers range from holiday jokes to boredom busters. Each comes with a full-color version to print, a black-and-white version to print and color, and complete folding instructions for new users.

Want more fortune tellers fun?

Get my HUGE 12 Month of Furtune Tellers bundle today!

The instant download e-book contains 39 of the best fortune tellers for spring, summer, fall, and winter. All major holidays are covered!  (Psst... there's even a discount!)

Free Printable Fortune Tellers

We're also the best site for free paper fortune tellers! The fortune tellers below are available for free download.

Click on the links below to learn more about each fortune teller, the PDF download is available for free on the description page.