Origami Christmas Ornaments

What You Need:

• 8 3x3” squares of wrapping paper
• Glue stick or rubber cement
• 2x2” photograph of your child
• Hole punch
• String for hanging the finished ornament

What You Do:

1. Start by laying down one 3” square, right side down. Fold it vertically and horizontally into four squares, and then open it so you can see the fold marks, like this:
2. Now fold all four corners into the middle. Now the “right side” (with all the cool decorations) will be showing.
3. This next step is perhaps the trickiest—parents stand by! Your child will fold the top two sides into the middle so that they form a “kite” shape, like this:
4. Do steps 1-3 seven more times, so that you have eight little “kites” made from scraps of wrapping paper. Special note here: some folks like to alternate just two types; others love to make a collection of this year’s holiday specials, as a memento!
5. Now you’re ready to make your full star. Lay out your eight “kites” so that the long tips go in the center and the broad pointed ends fan outward in a circle. The edges of each “kite” will overlap; glue them firmly together. They’ll look like this:
6. To finish off your ornament, glue a photograph of your child into the middle. Use a hole punch to make a hole in the top part of the star, and string it up on your tree. It will be beautiful this year—and perhaps even more next year, when you pull it out and look back together.
7. Special Note: Parents, don’t be surprised if the first “kite” is a challenge for your child, but do stick with it. One of the benefits of this project is its repetition: kids have lots of opportunities to try, try, again, and they do enjoy getting it right! In general, remember also that origami is an outstanding way to help your child become familiar with geometric shapes and relationships, while building hand-eye coordination that will be valuable for years to come.