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Library Helps Kids Foster Imagination Through Arts And Crafts
By Keith Hagarty
 | | Instructor Julia Meriney gives a lesson to kids at the Jackson Library's "Fun With Origami, And More!" monthly program. |
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With a little help from her mother, 8-year old Annie Pekata steadily focused on the task at hand, folding her colored paper into multiple shapes eventually creating a basketful of Valentine roses.
"She enjoys arts and crafts in general," said her mother, Laura Pekata. "She's very creative. She just likes making stuff."
The Pekatas joined other children and their parents for the Jackson Library's "Fun With Origami, And More!," a monthly series of classes designed to teach kids the wonders of the ancient art of origami, as well as developing their interests in the world of arts and crafts.
The program, like many of the children's programs offered by the Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library System, is a great outlet to spark her child's imagination.
It has an added benefit as well, according to Pekata.
"We home school, so I look for places where we do things with a different variety of children," said the Jackson mother.
Although only in her second class at the library, Annie knew right away what her favorite origami project has been so far, pointing to her two white German Shepards.
"The dog," she said point blank. "Because it reminded me of my dog, Misty."
As a member of The Jackson Friends of the Library, class in- structor Julia Meriney is proud to be able to do what she can teach the kids something new.
"It's just great. I love the library," she said. "We come here every day with the kids, and this is just something that I'm able to do for the library and in a way, give back to them because they've done so much for my kids."
Meriney didn't need much coaxing to help teach the first graders to fourth graders the fun of making their own paper models of various animals, snowflakes and valentine hearts.
"I got started from one of the ladies that works here who has an (origami) program for older kids and adults that I started going to and I really enjoyed it," she said. "I did a program for younger kids over the summer, and it was a big hit, so I offered to come once a month now for these guys."
As she prepares to embark on her studies to become a children's librarian, Meriney sees her time spent as an art and crafts instructor as a great way to combine some of her most valued passions in life: children, crafts and the library.
"I love crafts," she said. "It's something that I do on my own at home too."
It does Meriney's heart good to see the excitement in the eyes of the kids as they create something new with their own hands.
"The kids really enjoy it," she said. "I show them how to do the origami and then we make a project out of it where they're able to use their imagination and creativity."
With her sons William, 9, and Brendan, 7, also participating in the class, Meriney is always impressed by the varied works produced by each of the kids who join in.
"It's amazing," she said. "You can see a lot about the kids in how they all have the same instructions, but the end result for each kid is completely different from the kid sitting next to them. It's great."
For more information about "Fun With Origami, And More!" or other library programs offered for children and adults, call the Jackson branch at 732-928-4400 or visit their website at www.oceancountylibrary.org.
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