Paper lanterns are part of many festive holiday traditions around the world. From the Independence Day parades of Costa Rica to the Moon Festivals across Asia to the Yi Peng festival in Thailand, paper lanterns are cultural symbols with often spiritual meaning. This kodomo kid-friendly craft will bring light and warmth into your home! First gather two contrasting colored sheets of paper. Cut two vertical strips from the lighter colored paper. (This will be the inner “lamp” part of the lantern.)

Check out the video for an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to fold an origami paper crane, the symbol of peace in Japan. The Japanese art of origami (paper folding) is a 500 year-old tradition and up until recently was passed down orally from generation to generation. A great skill for young and old alike—and all ages in-between!

It’s Children’s Day in Honduras! What better way to celebrate the kodomo kid in all of us than with a couple of swings at a festive piñata! Fill with candy of your choice, invite some friends over, and enjoy! You will need: Newspaper (strips of approx 3″ by 3″)Flour Paste (approx 1 part flour to 2 parts water)PVA GlueLarge Round BalloonPaper Fringe Garlands or colored tissue paper Time: Without counting the time taken to dry the piñata this whole project should take around 10 minutes each