| The birthplace of origami is still a mystery. | | | | available. These contain squares of paper, |
| Paper was developed in China in the first | | | | often colored on one side only. This helps |
| century A.D., and Buddhist monks brought it | | | | to enhance the three dimensional effect of |
| to Japan by the sixth century A.D. However | | | | the item being folded. The paper is also |
| there are not many written records from that | | | | very thin, allowing it to be folded many |
| time, so it is not known whether origami | | | | times. Origami items can also be made from |
| first began in China or Japan. However, no | | | | scrap paper, such as standard printer paper. |
| one will argue that Japan developed origami | | | | This is often best for paper airplanes, due |
| to a high art form. The word origami is | | | | to its weight and size: larger airplanes (of |
| Japanese: oru means "to fold", and kami means | | | | a given design) generally fly better. True |
| "paper".Many grownups remember making origami | | | | origami is made from one piece of paper |
| items as a child. It was often a case of | | | | without using scissors, glue or decorative |
| watching as another youngster showed how to | | | | items such as markers. However, remember |
| make a paper airplane or something similar. | | | | that the goal is to have fun, so use what you |
| After a while, we develop a set of origami | | | | like.The effect of origami as kids is to |
| instructions in our head, for making several | | | | teach us creativity, patience and following a |
| airplanes, boats, animals, water balloons and | | | | process. As grownups, paper folding is a |
| other toys.As it turns out, there are only so | | | | great stress reliever and an effective way to |
| many ways to fold paper. Developing a | | | | bond further with our kids. Whether you'd |
| "language" of folding helps simplify passing | | | | like to make a simple paper boat or fold an |
| on origami teachings. Terms like "mountain | | | | elephant out of a dollar bill, origami is a |
| fold" and "valley fold" are used over and | | | | fun, simple and inexpensive hobby. So get a |
| over again. Basic fold patterns such as | | | | piece of paper and start folding!If you'd |
| "square base" and "bird base" can be used as | | | | like to know more about origami, including |
| starting points for many different origami | | | | how to fold specific items, visit our site at |
| pieces. From the basic building blocks, an | | | | article may be reprinted if proper credit is |
| effectively infinite number of origami items | | | | given and all links left intact. |
| can be made.Special origami kits are | | | | |