Origami is a great tool for helping children develop focus and concentration.  Each design takes a bit of time and children need to focus on each step to get the outcome they desire.  In addition, origami is terrific for building fine motor skills.  Children with strong fine motor skills will have an easier time printing, using scissors, doing art projects of all types, etc.  Origami is also fun and packed with math.  Engaging in origami with your child is a fun way to build their skills with fractions and geometry.

Let's make an origami ice cream cone.  This shape invites conversation about polygons and parallel lines.

ICE CREAM CONE

First you need two square pieces of origami paper - one colored (like pink) and the other brown.  Glue the two sheets together with a glue stick.  (Do not use bottle glue as it will make the paper lumpy.)

1. Fold the paper on the diagonal.

2. Next fold the left and right corners in to the center line.  Do you see the kite shape?  There are two pairs of adjacent sides that are the same size.

3. Fold back the left and right corners to create a square in the center. 

 4. Next flip your shape over.  

5. Fold back the sides.

6. Fold the top sections to the center fold line. 

7. Now we start to fold in our parallel lines. 

 Look at those parallel lines!

8. Complete your ice cream cone by gluing on some more lines for the cone and then perhaps some sprinkles on top. 

KITE -  a quadrilateral with two pairs of adjacent sides that are the same size 

PARALLEL LINES - lines that are always the same distance apart.  They go on and on and on and never meet.

For more origami fun try my origami whale: https://www.elementarymathforparents.com/blog/kids-origami-whale

This design is adapted from: https://www.poulettemagique.com/diy-origami-la-glace-bi-gout-yummy/