spending time with the 5 year olds

A few days a week, I watch some of the neighborhood kids after school.  This has worked out well for the mom and for me.  It has been especially nice for the boys.  I am trying to teach them responsibility.  I have Bob and SJ rotate getting them from the bus stop.  I also encourage them to play with them and help me get them their snacks. 

On Thursday, it was Bob's turn to get them from the bus stop.  I was in my kitchen with SJ.  He was busy putting papers, markers, crayons and scissors on the island.  "What are you doing?" I asked him.  "I am going to teach the kids to make an origami Yoda," he said.  "Okay.  They will enjoy that," I told him. 

He had bought a book at the Book Fair "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger.  It is funny book where the main character uses the Yoda as a way to communicate.  At the back of the book are instructions to make the origami Yoda. 

The two five year olds came bouncing in my back door two minutes later.  I told them that SJ had a surprise for them and asked them to take a seat at the island.  They listened and waited.  SJ then started explaining to them how to make an origami Yoda. 

It was so sweet watching him make a model and assist them when they were having trouble making the folds.  When they were done making all the folds, he helped them staple their Yodas and told them to color them.  "Now, Yoda is normally green, but you can color him any color you want.  Be creative," he told them.

I could feel my eyes tearing up with pride at how patient and mature he was acting.  The kids' mom came a few minutes later and they were very excited to show her their creations.  I told SJ that he could show them how to do the origami Darth Vader next week (he bought that book too).  It is called "Darth Paper Strikes Back" by Tom Angleberger. 

Here are SJ's finished origami creations. 


Origami Yoda, Han Foldo, Darth Paper