Paper-folding art can be described as an origami meaning that has its origins in China and Japan. The word itself is Japanese, oru, which means “to fold” and kami, which means “paper”.
The paper itself was invented in China in AD 105 and was a material that was cheaper than the original silk that was used as a writing surface but remained something only available to the rich.
Other cultures indeed contributed to paper folding, but you can say that the Japanese were the ones who discovered the possibility of using origami as an art form.
What is origami paper? Most of the models or designs created use a single square sheet of paper. Most often the paper has color on one side and remains white on the reverse side.
A valley fold is one of the more basic folds and is quite easy to achieve. When looking at an origami diagram, a valley fold is usually indicated by a dashed line. You must then take your paper and fold it along the dotted line shown.
A squash fold is taking a step up when it comes to folding, as it is slightly more challenging but still easy to achieve. You create a fold that forms something like a pocket, which you then squash down into position.
Once you have tried these three origami folds, you can move on to others. These include pleats, sink folds, reverse folds, petal folds, crimp folds, and rabbit ear folds.
In origami, you will come across various symbols and diagrams that help you to fold and create your origami art. These symbols are recognized worldwide and are something you should understand to accurately follow the paper folding instructions.
Once you understand all the folds and symbols and have practiced quite a bit to get the hang of things, you might want to explore the various origami styles. Some of these are quite challenging!
Origami is a wonderful way to help develop motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination in children. It can also greatly help a child’s mental focus and concentration. The precision it takes to create origami models also teaches kids patience, and attention to detail.
Begin your origami journey with simple designs and then only consider doing more challenging ones. Precision is important, so make sure you follow instructions properly to avoid unnecessary frustration.