Finding a hobby and pursuing it is essential for personal growth and the development of one’s own self.
Apart from socializing, making connections, and talking to people, it is essential that we spend some time with ourselves doing what we love to do or expressing ourselves in whatever way possible.
Doing something that lets the inner feeling and creativity of the person flow helps to refresh the mind and focus better.
Origami is a hobby that many pursue in their free time. The art of folding paper entirely stems from the Japanese tradition.
Origami: Pros And Cons
| Pros of Origami | Cons of Origami |
| 1. Suitable even for children. | 1. Not suitable for all kinds of paper. |
| 2. Enhances motor skills. | 2. Requires expensive paper. |
| 3. No usage of sharp objects. | 3. Needs extreme focus. |
| 4. A lack of creativity will not render desired consequences. | 4. Needs guidance. |
| 5. Way to know about other cultures. | 5. A lack of creativity will not render desired consequences. |
| 6. Sharpens mathematical skills. | 6. Frustration at failure. |
| 7. Increases patience. | 7. Wastage of paper. |
| 8. Makes people determined. | 8. Requirements for space. |
| 9. Cooperative learning. | 9. Time-consuming. |
| 10. Breaks down age barriers. | 10. Only limited application. |
✔️ Advantages Of Origami for Kids
People can exhibit their artistic side through complex paper folding, which inspires creativity. It offers a soothing and comforting experience that encourages mindfulness and stress reduction.
Additionally, practicing origami improves mental abilities like spatial awareness and problem-solving. Additionally, it is accessible, needs few resources, and is appropriate for individuals of all ages.
Origami has cultural value since it represents many different nations’ customs and cultural history.
Suitable even for children
Origami is a hobby that is suitable for both adults and children. It is something that a whole family can do together while enjoying each other’s company and creating something innovative.
There are complex origamis as well as simple ones. Hence, there is something for everyone to do.
Enhances motor skills
Developing motor skills is an essential part of growth for a child. As for adults, enhancing their motor skills will always benefit them and help them improve in other aspects of life. Origami aids in this process and helps with motor skills.
No usage of sharp objects
Unlike other forms of paper crafting, origami does not involve using any sharp objects. This makes origami available to and suitable for children or mentally unstable people who might have taken up the hobby in the hope of personal development.
This can be considered safe for everyone as there remains no risk of people hurting themselves in any way.
No usage of objects harmful to toddlers
Not just sharp objects, origami does not even involve the usage of glue or other materials, which might be harmful to toddlers if those come in contact with their eyes or mouth.
Therefore, origami requires no adult supervision, and the children can be left on their own safely.
Way to know other cultures
We live in a time when cultures from across the world have intermingled. Thus it becomes essential for us to know different cultures, appreciates them, and work toward knowing them even better.
Origami aids in this process as it emerges from the Japanese culture and has become extremely popular, thus helping us know the country better.
Sharpens mathematical skills
Origami requires one to draw out measurements, take care of proportions and note the shape that is to be formed.
They need to take care how much of paper they are folding or in what shape it is. This sharpens the mathematical and problem-solving skills of the people.
Increases patience
Origami requires a lot of patience as one needs to meticulously make exact measurements and fold paper precisely as directed to yield the desired result.
This act of doing something in the free time that needs one to concentrate increases the person’s patience overall.
Makes people determined
The initial stages of origami might be very smooth, but it gets more complex with each stage, just like most other things.
It needs enough determination from a person to go through all the stages to achieve the ultimate result. This also helps in personal development and makes a person determined in his personal life.
Encourages cooperative learning
Origami fosters cooperative learning as people can help each other to do this particular activity and achieve a particular result.
It is excellent as a family activity and helps the members bond with each other and help each other work towards achieving a particular goal.
Breaks down age barriers
There is always a power structure in effect at most places wherein the elders occupy the places of a higher power, and the younger is at the lower end of the hierarchy. In origami, everyone can take help from others no matter their age and thus break down age barriers.
❌ Disadvantages Of Origami For Kids
Its intricacy can be difficult, requiring sophisticated folding methods for complex structures. Origami crafts can sometimes take a lot of time and require patience and commitment.
Additionally, many origami creations are primarily used as decorative pieces, which limits their usefulness. A dedicated workspace and the possibility of frustration throughout the intricate folding process may be needed to complete sophisticated origami projects.
Not suitable for all kinds of paper
Ideally, we need proper papers manufactured primarily for origami use. It cannot be done with papers that we use in everyday life.
Requires expensive paper
The paper that is manufactured ideally for origami can prove to be expensive for some and thus makes origami inaccessible to a lot of people. Spending considerable amount of money on a hobby is not what most people prefer.
Needs extreme focus
Origami might appear to be a casual hobby initially but needs extreme focus, determination, and constant concentration. Most people prefer to have a hobby as a pastime that does not put much mental pressure.
Needs guidance
For a beginner, there needs to be proper guidance to take them through the various simple and complicated steps required for a pleasing result. It might not be possible for everyone to avail of that guidance.
Problem with lack of creativity
Origami is not for people who are not creatively enlightened. People with a lack of creativity might have a hard time figuring out their way through origami.
Frustration at failure
People might struggle to cope with failure at pursuing a hobby. With origami requiring creativity and focus, the success rate might not be as desired.
Wastage of paper
If a person fails at origami, the paper gets wasted. With environmental issues at their peak, it might be too much of a luxury on our part to waste paper.
The Japanese art form origami, is very therapeutic and is officially used for therapy in many cases. Apart from the minor inconveniences, origami is an excellent way to personality growth.
conclusion
origami for kids presents a plethora of both pros and cons that parents and educators should consider when introducing this art form to young learners.
On the positive side, origami promotes numerous developmental benefits, enhancing creativity, fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities. It offers an engaging and rewarding activity that sparks a sense of accomplishment and pride in children as they transform simple sheets of paper into intricate shapes.
However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the potential challenges, such as frustration and difficulty in grasping complex folds, which may lead to a loss of interest in some children.
By striking a balance between support and autonomy, adults can harness the power of origami to foster a love for art and learning in children, guiding them on a journey of discovery and self-expression.
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