Origami

It's getting to the point where ANY interaction with children is suspect, unfortunately. At the same time, the joy of making a child grin is one we shouldn't let go without a fight. There's got to be a way to teach them to be careful without teaching them to fear and shun all grown-ups.

After pondering my friend's idea, I adapted it slightly. I like origami, and most paper is non-toxic enough that even if the child eats it, she/he isn't going to be in any danger. (Not that I advocate giving origami to 2-year-olds). So sometimes, when I'm in an origami mood, I'll fill a basket and take my whimsical creations to a local farmers market. Some kids back away -- their parents have trained them wisely -- but now and then you'll get a gurgle of delight when you hand over a paper frog, a lily, or a dachshund.

Origami is a relaxing hobby you can do while watching TV, socializing, or listening to the phone if you've got a speaker-phone. It's also a good activity for small children, because they get a positive reward for following instructions carefully, and can make their own toys. Also, the toys can easily be folded flat and stored in an origami book for travel. As a small child, I often had an origami book and a packet of origami paper in my toy bag to keep myself from getting bored at restaurants and my parents' bridge nights.

I've Googled around a bit looking for an origami site with lots of models and easy-to-read instructions on how to make them. Below is one that especially charmed me; there's a good mix of traditional and unusual models, the diagrams are easy to follow, and all instructions can be printed out.

Plus, they have a step-by-step diagram of how to fold a "flog." "Engrish" mistakes amuse me.