Check It Out
by CONNIE WILLIAMS
Are you wondering what to do with the kids during spring break? Worry no more! You can bring them to the Kyle Public Library to learn origami, the art of paper folding.
On Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16, Teresa Montalvo, a talented long-time member of the library staff, will teach origami at the library from 1-2:30 p.m. These are stand-alone workshops, so you can come to either one or to both. On Tuesday, Teresa plans to walk attendees through creating a newspaper boat or hat, a box, a swan and a frog. On Wednesday, she will demonstrate folding a bangle bracelet, a flower with a stem, a ring and a crane with flapping wings.
Children who attend should have adequate fine motor skills to fold paper precisely without becoming frustrated. Younger children may also enjoy the workshop, if they are accompanied by someone who can help them. Although the targeted audience is children five and up, adults are welcome to participate as well. In the past, we have noticed that grown-ups enjoy the origami workshops as much as the kids!
Why origami? Origami is an inexpensive hobby that exercises the brain. Successfully completing origami projects can raise children’s self-esteem and teach them delayed gratification. Origami can also encourage reading; children who attend the workshops are often inspired to check out library books about origami. If you want to warm up before spring break, you can go to the website www.origami-club.com/en/.
Teresa Montalvo has fond memories of learning paper folding from her mother, who made newspaper hats, tissue flowers and paper boats on rainy days. Come to the Kyle Library over spring break and make your own origami memories.
