Origami is a rewarding hobby and it’s also a lot of fun. Children can easily learn how to enjoy the art of origami if you teach them about it. After all, there’s something quite magical about taking a simple sheet of paper and transforming it into a figure of your choice.
Teaching origami to kids is not at all difficult, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make the folding process more appealing to them. That’s why we bring you a few tips on introducing origami to children so that you can get started!
1. Wait Until they’re Ready
In Japan, children start learning origami basics in preschool. However, in the US, you’ll have better luck waiting for your kid to be 6 or 8 years old. Why? Because origami requires focus. Your child needs to be able to sit still, follow directions, and also have a basic understanding of fractions. You don’t want to introduce origami when they’re not ready to do these things because it will be frustrating and ruin the experience.
2. Tailor your Origami Projects
Remember that little ones have short attention spans. Now, this doesn’t mean they won’t be able to enjoy origami. It just means you’ll have to tailor their projects. To get started, use basic figures that don’t require many steps. Five to 10 steps should be the rule for a child learning the basics and it should take up to 20 minutes. As they grow older and more interested, you can choose other more complicated figures. Also, make sure the figures you choose go with your child’s interests and likes.
3. Prepare to Help with any Doubts
Before you introduce your children to any origami figures, make sure to do a trial run by yourself. This will allow you to practice and be prepared if your child runs into any doubts or has a hard time understanding instructions. The last thing you want is to interrupt the session so you can figure a direction out, so prepare in advance.
4. Mistakes are Welcome
When you’re teaching origami to children, you can’t expect things to be perfect at once. Even adults have issues with their first figures and that’s completely normal. In fact, mistakes are welcome because they allow you to learn what not to do. Practice will make perfect, so keep encouraging your children and continue your origami project for as long as they’re interested.
5. Use Origami Embellishments for Extra Fun
Last but not least, make origami even more fun by using embellishments. Origami is abstract and even though that’s beautiful and interesting to look at, children will love to add to their creations. You can draw features and details into the figures, use glitter, use paper with patterns, and so much more! Just be creative and allow your children to do the same.
Origami is a wonderful hobby to have and your children will enjoy it greatly, just make sure you follow these tips to make the introduction easier!
Teaching origami to kids is not at all difficult, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make the folding process more appealing to them. That’s why we bring you a few tips on introducing origami to children so that you can get started!
1. Wait Until they’re Ready
In Japan, children start learning origami basics in preschool. However, in the US, you’ll have better luck waiting for your kid to be 6 or 8 years old. Why? Because origami requires focus. Your child needs to be able to sit still, follow directions, and also have a basic understanding of fractions. You don’t want to introduce origami when they’re not ready to do these things because it will be frustrating and ruin the experience.
2. Tailor your Origami Projects
Remember that little ones have short attention spans. Now, this doesn’t mean they won’t be able to enjoy origami. It just means you’ll have to tailor their projects. To get started, use basic figures that don’t require many steps. Five to 10 steps should be the rule for a child learning the basics and it should take up to 20 minutes. As they grow older and more interested, you can choose other more complicated figures. Also, make sure the figures you choose go with your child’s interests and likes.
3. Prepare to Help with any Doubts
Before you introduce your children to any origami figures, make sure to do a trial run by yourself. This will allow you to practice and be prepared if your child runs into any doubts or has a hard time understanding instructions. The last thing you want is to interrupt the session so you can figure a direction out, so prepare in advance.
4. Mistakes are Welcome
When you’re teaching origami to children, you can’t expect things to be perfect at once. Even adults have issues with their first figures and that’s completely normal. In fact, mistakes are welcome because they allow you to learn what not to do. Practice will make perfect, so keep encouraging your children and continue your origami project for as long as they’re interested.
5. Use Origami Embellishments for Extra Fun
Last but not least, make origami even more fun by using embellishments. Origami is abstract and even though that’s beautiful and interesting to look at, children will love to add to their creations. You can draw features and details into the figures, use glitter, use paper with patterns, and so much more! Just be creative and allow your children to do the same.
Origami is a wonderful hobby to have and your children will enjoy it greatly, just make sure you follow these tips to make the introduction easier!