Origami Clubs for Children 6-14 Living with a BFRB

What is a BFRB? Compulsive Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, or Nail Chewing.

What is a BFRB? Compulsive Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, or Nail Chewing.

Building Resiliency and Friendships, One Fold at a Time

Origami Story Club is a playful community for sensitive kids with BFRBs (and the people who love them) to stop feeling scared and alone and learn to build courage alongside a supportive community of new friends.

You care SO much, but your child’s BFRB has left you feeling frustrated and heartbroken. 

Maybe you’ve just discovered that your child is pulling their hair or picking their skin and you just don’t know what to do!  Or you’ve known for a while and you’ve tried everything!  

You’ve gone through so many different stages of this BFRB journey with your child.  The fear when you see bald patches, the battles you try so hard to avoid but can’t, buying a kajillion fidgets hoping that will solve the problem, and sometimes just throwing your hands up in the air!  

The worry doesn’t seem to go away and nothing seems to change, leaving you and your child all alone and feeling like you’ve failed.  You really just want to bring some peace and calm in your home and relief for your precious child!

You and your child are exactly why I created these clubs!  Kids in my clubs get to meet other kids virtually who know what it’s like having a BFRB. They learn how to talk about their own experience in a safe and FUN place.  And they learn origami of course!  They leave each club feeling a bit lighter and a bit more hopeful and you have a chance to step away knowing and take some much-needed time for yourself.

I have always loved teaching origami, but when I decided to teach origami online, I knew that it had to be for kids who needed support and community more than any.  Having struggled much of my life with my own BFRB, I knew exactly who those special kids were!  As a trained counselor and natural teacher, I also knew that I could bring them the safety and compassion that kids with BFRBs especially need.

On my own journey I have learned that community is key to finding the courage to heal and spending time with kids has shown me that they thrive when they’re with their own peeps!

“Seeing her have more confidence has helped me not have so much anxiety about her condition.”

Parent of Origami Story Club Member

“Jen, I wanted to send you a note of gratitude. You are making a difference for my daughter. She beams with pride!”

Parent of Origami Story Club Member

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No- if you and your child both consider this a challenge that is enough to participate.

  • Yes and No. Make sure they are logged in and that the computer is working. Once the club meeting is started it is actually best if parents step aside and let their child have the group experience. If they run into challenges with the folds, I will be there to support them, and so will the club members. They might even get frustrated, and that’s okay, we can work to get through challenges together.

  • Yes, please complete my scholarship application. It is important to me that all children who could benefit from the clubs are able to!

  • Origami Story Clubs are designed for children to participate in independently. That said, parents are always welcome to observe the group from a distance that allows their child to participate without distraction or input. If you’d like to sign up for a one time parent child, that is always an option (INSERT LINK HERE)

  • Origami Story Club is not a therapy group. That said, it is designed in a way that creates a safe and playful space for peers which makes it an environment of wellness and empowerment.

  • Any paper cut into precise squares will work including multi-purpose copy paper, wrapping paper, newspaper, magazine paper or maps! If you’d like, you can buy origami paper at a craft store, or from one of the stores that I recommend. Taro’s and Tuttle both have beautiful and affordable papers. Since lots of our time is spent decorating our creations please make sure they have markers or colored pencils. Scissors are handy too.

  • Ideally your child with a BFRB can join a club and learn with other peers who have a similar experience. That said, a private Origami Story Club could be a fantastic opportunity for siblings to have fun together! Please inquire about private clubs.