“I am convinced that origami is the secret of world peace because when we use our hands to fold, we don’t think about destruction.” THE BENEFITS OF ORIGAMI FOR CHILDREN

Akira Yoshizawa

When I think of origami, paper immediately comes to mind: colored paper, square or rectangular paper, decorated paper or simply newspaper.

Origami is an ancient art of Japanese origin that through the folding of sheets of paper, without glue or scissors, creates anything from a simple object to a symbolic representation of the reality that surrounds us.

Described in this way it seems to hide a philosophical aspect, as indeed it can be for those like me who see in origami a great potential for renewing their own way of teaching.

Teaching origami and origami helps children to have a pleasant experience that increases their self-esteem, as what is achieved is something personal that is generally liked because it is done with their own hands. In the school, especially the primary one, origami is used to make small jobs for every holiday, since it requires little time, little material and above all not dirty; but making origami and making them with the right paper, leads to appreciate the process to make them and not just the results. This process in fact creates sharing and collaboration and above all helps to develop creative thinking.

Paper is to origami as language is to the ability to express oneself; so why limit ourselves to using origami only in an artistic or mathematical context? Try folding, and explaining your discipline will be more rewarding for everyone!

Antonella Graniero teacher of the Primary School “Elve Fortis” of Brugherio-MB

We report the next conference on origami which will take place from 1 to 3 April in Bellaria (Rimini). THE BENEFITS OF ORIGAMI FOR CHILDREN