If you’re looking for a fun cootie catcher game to enjoy with the kids, then check out my cute camp themed paper fortune teller + 16 more!
I ABSOLUTELY loved these as a kid – I mean, what other magical piece of folded paper knew your freaking DESTINY like this thing did? I’m just kidding! But we did use them quite a bit, and I was reminded of how awesome they were when I started getting more into this whole paper craft thing (check out this cute foldable camping journal I just did!)
Side note – Did you know it got it’s name from kids pretending to use the pinchers on it to catch cooties such as lice and other bugs?! This whole time I thought it was something to do with how boys had cooties and it seemed the cootie catcher was always being used with that sort of stuff!
Another interesting bit… it was originally called a “salt cellar” and placed on tables to put small pieces of food items such as spices in by turning it upside down (points down on the table like legs) and filling the compartments with said items!
Alright, I know you didn’t come here for random trivia, so let’s get to it!
How to fold a cootie catcher game
It can be confusing at first (if you scroll further down, you can see pictures of me folding my cootie catcher if video works better for you!) but once you do it once or twice, it’s easy!
I have put # signs and “text” labels to make it a little easier to design your own unique game!
If you would like to download this free blank cootie catcher template + instructions, it is available at the bottom of this article! =) If you would like to use the camp specific one I created for this tutorial, check out the prefilled camp themed template on Etsy!
Folding instructions for blank cootie catcher template:
- Write in numbers or pictures in each of the boxes labeled with a “#” sign.
- In each of the boxes labeled with “text”, write your “fortunes” in the direction that the tiny sample “text” is written in the corners of the template so that it makes sense when you open it up!
- Cut out the template and begin by folding in half one way. Unfold, and fold in half the opposite way.
- Flip it over and fold corners With the template completely unfolded, flip it over so that the blank side is facing up (pictures facing down). Fold the corners into the center of the template – it may help to use your creases as guides for this fold
- Flip the paper over and do corners again so that the parts that you just folded (the numbers) are facing down, and all the prompts are facing up towards you. Fold in each corner to the center again.
- Fold in half With the numbers side of the cootie catcher facing up, fold it in half so that the pictures are on the outside.
- Form it Slide your fingers (pointer and thumb of each hand) under each of the two flaps created by the previous fold.
- “Pop” out the flaps then push in to finish up!
Camp Cootie Catcher Printable For Kids
Bring this fun printable camping cootie catcher game for kids with you to create some laughs and tons of memories!
Materials
- Template (this camp themed one is on Etsy, but a free blank one is provided below)
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Cut out the template and begin by folding in half one way. Unfold, and fold in half the opposite way.
- With the template completely unfolded, flip it over so that the blank side is facing up (pictures facing down). Fold the corners into the center of the template (it may help to use your creases as guides for this fold)
- Now flip the paper over again so that the parts that you just folded (the numbers) are facing down, and all the prompts are facing up towards you. Fold in each corner to the center again.
- With the numbers side of the cootie catcher facing up, fold it in half so that the pictures are on the outside.
- Slide your fingers (pointer and thumb of each hand) under each of the two flaps created by the previous fold. "Pop" out these flaps then push in to finish up!
- DONE! Go have fun!
Notes
Make sure to use your nail or something else solid to make good creases!
Don't forget to download your blank template at the bottom of this post or click through one of the other ideas you see here!
How do you play this cootie catcher (or sometimes known as fortune teller) game?
It’s simple, and a perfect game to either pass around camp for the older kids or to practice turn taking, counting, and number recognition with little kids!
Traditionally, you would put answers such as “yes, no, maybe, definitely not etc” so that when you ask a question, you would spell out whatever decorates the it (IE, blue is four letters so you’d open and close four times if you pick the blue flap) and proceed from there.
Mine is activity based but the game is still played basically the same!
Anyways, here’s how to play the cootie catcher game!
- Pick out a picture/number and open and close the cootie catcher the amount of times listed above the animal (older kids could skip that number if they chose and instead open and close it based on the number of letters it takes to spell the picture they picked)
- Pick a visible number, then open and close the cootie catcher that amount of times.
- Pick a visible number again.
- Open the flap and read the prompt under the corresponding flap!
More cute themed Cootie Catchers
While I love my camping one, I know there are SOOO many fun times to use a simple cootie catcher game! Here are some other super fun themed fortune teller printables for kids!
- Time to Move Cootie Catcher by The Crafting Chicks
- Chore Cootie Catcher by Happiness is Homemade
- Back to School Paper Joke Teller by Bren Did
- Road Trip Games Cootie Catcher by Red Ted Art
- Shark Cootie Catcher by Easy Peasy and Fun
- Pig Cootie Catcher by Red Ted Art
- Dr. Seuss Cootie Catcher by Angie Holden
- Spring Joke Cootie Catcher by Artsy-Fartsy Mama
- Harry Potter Fortune Teller by The Suburban Mom
- Star Wars Fortune Tellers by Rock Your Homeschool
- Teddy Bear Cootie Catcher by Easy Peasy and Fun
- Minion Cootie Catcher by Angie Holden
- Gratitude Thanksgiving Cootie Catcher by Bren Did
- Multiplication Cootie Catcher by Artsy-Fartsy Mama
- Old School Cootie Catcher by Ginger Casa
What are some fun ideas for my own game?
There are a TON of fun ways to use this style of game for fun with the family!
Some cootie catcher game prompt ideas (the flaps you open!) might include
- Funny opinions on certain topics (Eat an onion or drink an onion EW lol!)
- Fun physical activities (hop like a frog, kick like a kangaroo X amount of times)
- Challenges (who can find 3 leaves first)
- Team challenges (the person who picked the flap gets to challenge someone else to compete with in completing the task)
- And of course your basic questions you probably remember from school (yes, maybe, no, definitely not, GAG etc) that makes this more of the traditional “fortune teller” game
Here’s your free cootie catcher template – get creative using all the ideas above!!
Even though all the previous ones are easy to use in the sense that it’s done for you, I DEFINITELY get if you’re trying to find the free goods or just do something unique!
So I created this blank cootie catcher printable template so that you can use your own creativity to make your own unique version!
I have put super tiny labels to help you fill it out so you don’t got to compare it over and over again to make sure you’re doing it right.
Download your FREE blank cootie catcher template here
Do you have fond memories of cootie catchers like this?
I definitely do, and I love that it’s something easy to slip in your pocket for almost anywhere! We really like our camp themed cootie catcher because it’s an easy way to get some laughs and conversation going around the campfire!
Don’t forget to purchase your own camp cootie catcher here or use the free blank one above if that works better for you!
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