It seems C-Bear has taken quite an interest in paper folding this summer. Our tables, floors, and countertops are littered with origami creations. New paper projects keep popping up on the coffee table, the dining room table, my bedside table.
It’s really quite astounding how quickly she learns the techniques behind each new project. In no time flat she can do the folds from memory. I read the instructions and just can’t picture it in my head and sit there feeling confused and frustrated, but she has mastered it! Her bag of paper even comes to the playground with us.
She thinks there should be an origami booth at those carnivals and fairs where people make and give away balloon animals to kids. And why not? I mean who wouldn’t be amused by a paper ball, a bunny that wiggles his ears, a bird that flaps its wings, a boat you can float, a noisemaker, or kaleidoscope? It’s pretty fun stuff! 
Unlike other pursuits that are followed for a bit and quickly dropped, her interest in this art form is in no way waning yet! It has pretty much yielded summer-long enjoyment. I love when my children find something they are good at and derive so much pleasure from practicing and perfecting it. This will be remembered as the summer of origami in our household!
I’ve been planning out our first term for this year of school which will begin the end of this month and have been pondering what to do for handicrafts. I’m thinking I might let C-Bear take the lead on that for this upcoming term and have her teach the rest of us how to make these fun and artistic amusements! Charlotte Mason employed “paper sloyd” with her students. We shall do origami.
For any of you who might have children interested in trying some of these projects, here are a few books from our local library we have enjoyed (along with copious amounts of YouTube videos!)…
- The Pirate Girl’s Treasure: An Origami Adventure by Peyton Leung
- Folding for Fun: Origami for Ages 4 and Up by Didier Boursin
- Paper-Folding Fun!: 50 Awesome Crafts to Weave, Twist, and Curl by Ginger Johnson
And speaking of paper sloyd, you can freely download a copy of Paper Sloyd (A Handbook for Primary Grades) by Ednah Anne Rich here.
My Peace in the Puzzle 