Hand crafting a gift makes it more personal. When kids make them, there are added dimensions. They enjoy the making and the people who get them, treasure them. If this craft can double up as a toy, everyone around enjoys it all the more.
Paper Toys
As parents we have bought our kids origami kits at some time or the other. We have also made them paper dogs from Jumpstart crafts, paper boats and gliders innumerable times. It's magical to see a flat piece of paper turn into something magnificent and 3d with just a few folds and cuts. With kids at home, a lot of paper is used up and this needs to be recycled at some point. Paper Crafts are certainly a good way to repurpose used paper.
2d to 3d and more!
Flexagons are puzzles. A piece of paper turns into a toy which can be folded and refolded to display various designs. How cool is that! When made of card stock it lasts longer, but paper is good too. Kids can color it, and it's very interesting to see how they turn up once the folding is completed. As kids understand how the design are affected by the folding, they slowly master it and execute some wonderful coloring plans!
Some History
Arthur Stone, a mathematician is credited with creating one of the first flexagons. Once while he was working at Princeton he had a problem fitting American sized paper into his British binder. He cut off the ends of paper and began folding them, eventually creating a flexagon. Soon there was a Princeton Flexagon Committee. Some years later Martin Gardner, the recreational mathematician introduced flexagons to the general public.
Make your Own Flexagon
You will need a printed template, coloring pens, glue, a pair of scissors and some patience. Cut it along the outlines. Color it smartly by following instructions on the sheet. Then fold and crease. Carefully glue ends as suggested. Your flexagon is ready for play!
As kids make more than one, they get better at planning the coloring and the designs they want to make for their flexagon gift. Merry Christmas and a Happy 2017!
