Cootie Catcher Fortune Game Ideas

Often when kids are sitting together at school or the park or are even snuggled in bed at sleepovers, they look for ways to entertain themselves. On such occasions, when the most resources they can manage are a piece of paper and some markers, it gets hard to not drown in boredom. It is so that these kids learn and come up with games like trash basketball, paper airplanes, and the cootie catcher fortune-telling game. All of these are simple and amusing for kids of all ages, and sometimes even adults! The Cootie Catcher game is an origami whereby kids and adults can fold a single piece of paper into a small game that can be used to predict the future of the participants or to play other games like the truth and dare. These games are ideal not only for schools and sleepovers but also for work mixers and family holiday gatherings. Many Christmas and Halloween themes cootie catchers can be made to make holidays more enjoyable.

The Origin of the Cootie Catcher

The Story Behind its Catchy Name

The cootie catcher is said to have first appeared in the 1700s in Britain and spread around the world after that. The word “cooties” is often used by kids to describe germs they feel they’ve been infected with because of interacting with the other gender. The cootie catcher was hence named so because young girls pretended to use the pointy tip of the origami model to pick these germs of their friends and then also tell their friends’ fortunes utilizing the game.

How to Make a Cootie Catcher Origami

This game is as easy to make as it is entertaining. Following is a step to step guide to making the perfect cootie catcher.

Step 1: Take a piece of square paper approximately 7 inches on all sides.

Step 2: Bring the ends of the paper together to fold it diagonally until an “X” appears on the paper.

Step 3: Take each corner and fold it towards the center until you get a smaller square-shaped paper.

Step 4: Now flip the paper over and then proceed to fold the corners inwards again, towards the center.

Step 5: Stick your thumbs and first two fingers into the four pockets on the bottom. Your cootie catcher is ready for use!

How to Play the Paper Fortune Teller Game

The cootie catcher origami model can be used for telling the fortunes of friends and family. The cootie catcher has a total of 8 flaps on the inside that can be filled with fun and daring predictions.

The following are the easy steps this game can be played.

Step 1: On each of the eight flaps inside, write down a prediction for the future of your friends and family.

Step 2: On the outside on these inside flaps, write down the numbers from 1 to 8.

Step 3: On the eight outside flaps, write down the name of 4 colors like yellow, blue, red, and pink.

Step 4: Now, ask your friend to pick one of the four colors from the ones given.

Step 5: The number of letters in color is the number of times you have to flip between the pockets until you appear at a set of 4 digits. Ask any of your friends to pick one of the four numbers.

Step 6: The number of letters in the spellings of that number is the number of times you have to flip between the pockets until you appear at a set of 4 digits again. Ask your friend to pick one of these four numbers.

Step 7: Now flip over the flap with the chosen two numbers, and whatever is written underneath is your friend’s fate.

Cootie Catcher Fortune Ideas for Kids

Children are the main subjects when it comes to the fortune-telling game. Young and optimistic children are always hopeful for a great future and are still very curious to know what the future holds.

  1. You will top in your class this year.
  2. You will fall from your bike next time you ride it.
  3. Your mother is going to make your broccoli for dinner tonight.
  4. You’re going to get a remote-control sports car for your birthday this year.
  5. Your late grandfather will be going to come to visit you this Halloween.

Cootie Catcher Fortune Ideas for Adults

Adults, however, also make up a significant part of the audience as they can play with their kids as well as play amongst themselves to cure boredom in kid-friendly ways. These ideas are especially ideal for parents who have to tag along to kids’ birthday parties with their children and have to remain kid-friendly in those environments while still having fun.

  1. You’re going to receive the promotion you’ve wanted next month
  2. You’re going to get married to your boyfriend/girlfriend next year.
  3. You’re going to receive your favorite new makeup pallet as a valentine’s gift.
  4. This Christmas will be your last Christmas on Earth.
  5. You’re going to wake up colorblind tomorrow.

Funny Fortune Teller Predictions

These predictions can be used by either kids or adults and might even open up a lid off stories from participants hence invoking conversation.

  1. You will slip on a banana peel today.
  2. Your kitchen will restock itself within the next week.
  3. You will wake up as the other gender tomorrow morning.
  4. Everything will taste like oatmeal to you when you wake up tomorrow morning.

Dirty Fortune Teller Predictions

These predictions can be used in parties that are all adults, and adults can have their fun without worrying about being kid-friendly. Couples can also use these predictions as a fun way of disclosing plans for the rest of the night to their partner.

  1. You’re going to have sex for the first time tonight.
  2. You’re going to kiss a stranger next time you go out with your friends that will spark a passionate romance.
  3. You will soon receive a partner with the same sexual preferences as you.
  4. You’re going to get your first sexually transmitted disease in the next month.

How to Play Cootie Catcher Truth or Dare

The cootie catcher can also be used to play a truth and dare game that can be exciting and daunting for all age groups. The following are the steps you need to follow to perform the cootie catcher truth and dare game.

Step 1: On each of the eight flaps inside, write down truth or dare.

Step 2: On the outside on these inside flaps, write down the numbers from 1 to 8.

Step 3: On the eight outside flaps, write down the name of 4 colors like yellow, blue, red, and pink.

Step 4: Now ask your friend to pick one of the four colors from the ones given.

Step 5: The number of letters in color is the number of times you have to flip between the pockets until you appear at a set of 4 digits. Ask any of your friends to pick up one of the four numbers.

Step 6: The number of letters in the spellings of that number is the number of times you have to flip between the pockets until you appear at a set of 4 digits again. Ask your friend to pick one of these four numbers.

Step 7: Now flip over the flap with the chosen two numbers and find fun and challenging dares as well as mind-boggling truths hidden inside for your friend to perform and answer.

Truth Ideas for Kids

  1. Who do you love more, your mom or dad?
  2. Who’s your least favorite classmate?
  3. Who do you think is the dumbest kid in your class?
  4. How often do your parents fight?
  5. What’s your favorite afterschool snack?
  6. What’s your excuse to get out of going to school?
  7. What is your favorite holiday?

Dare Ideas for Kids

  1. Run across the backyard and back in under 5 seconds.
  2. Eat a full green chili without drinking water for 15 minutes after.
  3. Go to your least liked person in this group of friends and confess your dislike for them in a dramatic way.
  4. Eat one bowl of ice cream without using your hands.
  5. Eat a spoonful of toothpaste
  6. Crack an egg over your head.
  7. Balance one spoon on your nose for 10 seconds.

Truth Ideas for Adults

  1. How many sexual partners have you had in the past ten years?
  2. What’s the one quality your partner must have?
  3. What’s your number one holiday destination?
  4. Describe your ideal profession.
  5. Do you actually believe in fate when it comes to love, or would you prefer to look for a partner purposefully?
  6. Did you ever sneak into any of the adult movies when you were underage?
  7. Have you ever complained about something at any fast food restaurant to get out of paying?

Dare Ideas for Adults

  1. Lick Nutella off the fingers of the participant sitting next to you.
  2. Call your mother and tell her you’re pregnant/ got a girl pregnant. Continue the joke for the 1-minute minimum.
  3. Fill up your mouth with water and try singing a song.
  4. Lick the bottom of the feet of the participant sitting next to you.
  5. Do 50 push-ups.
  6. You have to keep your hand on your inner thigh of the person next to you for the next round.
  7. You have to send an R-rated voicemail for your ex.

12 thoughts on “Cootie Catcher Fortune Game Ideas”

  1. I remember playing the cootie catcher fortune game when I was a kid. Brought back so many memories. And I loved the fact that you give us so many ideas about how to play this game with kids and adults alike.

    Reply
  2. I remember playing this when I was in school. It never really had an official name among me and my friends, though. This brings back so many memories.

    Reply
  3. hahaha so awesome! I played cootie catcher a lot growing up. It is so fun and easy to make and play. Thanks for the good memories!

    Reply
  4. Wow! We use to make these all the time at school when I was a kid!! Thanks for the flashback! So cool that people still make them!!

    Reply

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