When I started volunteering for Playtime Project about five years ago, I was immediately impressed by how the staff consistently provided high-quality playtime with educational and joyful activities. I thought origami would be a great fit for Playtime because, as an educator, I know the proven benefits of origami for children’s physical and cognitive development, as well as for mental wellness. And since origami requires only a single sheet of paper, it’s perfect for families with limited resources. Soon after I joined, I asked the Playtime staff if I could introduce origami to the program. The staff were, as always, understanding and flexible, and said, “Go for it!” Since then, I’ve shared origami with children (and sometimes their families) at various Playtime sites — including transitional homeless shelters, shelters for survivors of domestic violence, low-income public housing, and buildings housing Venezuelan asylum-seeker families.

Although it can sometimes be challenging to help children stay focused, most of the time it’s a tremendous joy to watch their eagerness, excitement, and sense of accomplishment when they complete a creation. Many children have amazed me with their creativity. One little girl, instead of following my instructions to make a bunny face, turned the paper upside down, cut off ears and feet from another paper, and pasted them on to create an entire rabbit body. An 11-year-old boy folded an origami heart and wrote a lovely message inside: “Love yourself, Open mind, Very passionate, Everyone loves you!” Sometimes the mothers at the homeless shelters also join in. They seem to enjoy folding paper and momentarily forget the difficult situations they are going through. What the Playtime staff and volunteers are doing for children might seem like a tiny piece — but together, these small pieces can make a lasting change now and in the future.