Crafting with children

Hello,

I firmly believe that teaching children crafts gives them something valuable to carry with them through life. Through crafts, children learn specific skills and, when they grow up...

...have better chances of leading a successful life.

Their hands become more dexterous, their brains are exercised and develop, and their patience and perseverance noticeably improve.

By teaching crafts, I feel like I’m helping to ensure a better future (sounds pretty global, but it’s true :-)). Every person in a large community (humanity) is small and can usually only make a small contribution. But every contribution is important, because every contribution sets off a chain reaction that spans generations. Children who are learning crafts now will, in turn, teach crafts to their own children, grandchildren, and so on, across the generations.

I think we shouldn’t always focus on the here and now, or think only of our own “self,” but sometimes look beyond the present into the future and view the whole picture from above. Personally, I sometimes get positive goosebumps from the fact that my tiny, tiny, tiny contribution can still make such a big difference.

What I actually wanted to say: I regularly do crafts and crochet with little ones and wanted to know if anyone else here does that too :-).

Best wishes, Melanie

Hi. I also do a lot of crafts with my kids. In kindergarten, I was always there whenever group work was on the agenda.

It’s fun. Glad you’re enjoying it too.

anything that keeps kids away from TV, computers, and cell phones is a good thing—and going outside to play is also a good thing. That often gets neglected.

Handicrafts are good for coordination between the hand and the brain, and also good for concentration.
Since, as far as I know, cursive writing is no longer taught in schools—due to time constraints and such—it might be important to teach children manual skills in other ways.
http://www.welt.de/kultur/article136378628/Es-ist-gut-fuers-Gehirn-mit-der-Hand-zu-schreiben.html
But then again, I think most kids pick it up one way or another sooner or later anyway. I mean, all those fine motor skills. And whoever doesn’t learn them ends up in occupational therapy right away. People don’t mess around these days—if a child takes a little longer to do something, they immediately call in a doctor or a therapist, instead of giving the child a little more time to learn it on their own, at their own pace. But anyway. That has nothing to do with this.

I still think, though, that a hobby like needlework can improve motor skills and concentration,
but the thing is, not all parents or grandparents know how to do needlework, and not all kids want to learn that kind of thing either. And not everyone has the patience to sit down and knit for half an hour.
Which brings us to the next topic, so to speak: these days, anyone who fidgets a little is immediately diagnosed with ADHD, and then they’re prescribed medication and all that. Do they actually enjoy crafts? Or could it be that the enjoyment of crafts would help them calm down?
I’m well aware that ADHD exists. But I also know that it would do many children good to run around outside instead of sitting in front of a computer—then maybe they wouldn’t be so fidgety from time to time. Regardless of that, though,

I believe that crafts will become more popular again. The current boom can’t and won’t just disappear. So I’m sure more children will take it up again.
I don’t think our future will look exactly like it’s described in sci-fi books—at least, that’s what I hope. But anyway, that’s a whole other story. It would be exciting to know what things will actually be like in 60 or 70 years, but that’s still quite a while away, and maybe I’ll even live long enough to see it happen firsthand.

I have a bit of a hard time viewing crafts in a broader context, which is why I’m jumping from one aspect to another. I mean, for a long time I was used to the idea that crafts aren’t really necessary anymore, because you can buy everything in stores and stuff. But at some point, that just isn’t enough anymore. You just want more than that.

I do believe that crafts are good for a child’s development, but I also believe that the time you devote to a child while teaching them crafts is just as important for their development.

And I also believe that crafts are a good way to teach a child that the result of a project depends on the quality of the materials used and on whether you do it with focus or just sort of on the side.
I mean, a craft project made with a rickety crochet hook and frayed yarn certainly doesn’t look the same as one made with good yarn and a good crochet hook. Professionals can do a lot of things, but they probably can’t crochet frayed yarn into good yarn.
So, what I wanted to say is
that children learn the value of their own work and the importance of the quality of the supplies or materials.
And they also learn that with practice, you can achieve much more beautiful results.

They say you have to invest about 11,000–12,000 hours to really master something. Playing the piano, for example. Well, I mean, nobody necessarily has to spend 12,000 hours crocheting—certainly not all at once.
But even children are capable of understanding that with a little practice, they can produce much more even stitches.
And then they might not be so discouraged or disappointed when they try something in another area and it doesn’t work out right away, because they know that with practice, it gets better.


 

I somehow kept this topic in mind and also brought it up over in the thread for the quiet sewing fans
https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/forum/topic/9600/naeh-fans-gibts-hier-nicht-so-viele-ich-glaub-sie-sagen-nur-einfach-nicht-viel
That’s something I think is really important: that you should be able to sew on a button when needed.
That’s something children should be taught, regardless of whether sewing is good for patience and fine motor skills.

Well, I only really got into crafts (crocheting) about two years ago. I don’t have children of my own, but almost everyone in my circle of friends has at least one by now. As an aunt, I always enjoy crocheting something for the little ones.

As for myself, I have to say that I actually find it a shame my parents and grandparents didn’t encourage me to do this when I was a child, even though my grandma sewed and knitted herself. My mom also used to knit a lot. But since I’m left-handed, they both just gave up way too early. I really think it’s a shame. Especially since I now hold the crochet hook in my right hand and get along just fine. I basically taught myself.

I can only recommend that everyone get their own children involved early on. Little ones, in particular, usually have so much fun with it, no matter what craft technique it is. And handmade is just handmade—it’s always something special that kids can be proud of.

Hi Melanie,
Those are lovely thoughts! I completely agree with you, @Melanie... “Crafting with Kids” is a topic that comes up far too rarely . Maybe we could start a section here called “Crafting with Kids” and put everything suitable for that there. Perhaps it would be helpful to include a tag, topic, or something similar in the description of each individual pattern?? For example,

“Suitable for crafting with kids” or
“Partially suitable for crafting with kids” or
“Not suitable for crafting with kids.”

Come to think of it, we could even expand this to include accessibility and specify “Suitable for crafters with visual impairments ***” or “Suitable for crafters with limited finger mobility ***,” etc.

That makes the world a better place for those affected!

Best regards, Biene

Hello, dear crafting friends
I’ve only been here a few days and would like to share the following on this topic:
My friend’s granddaughter was about 3 years old and found it very interesting to see what I was doing with the needles and yarn.
She wanted to “sew” too—long story short, I took a postcard, sketched a butterfly on it, and punched small holes in it. Then I threaded a nice, thick piece of yarn through the needle for her, and the little girl was happy—she sewed. That was the start of her crafting journey.
Today she’s 9 years old and has embroidered her first piece of counted fabric with cross-stitch and made herself a little pencil case. She can’t crochet or knit yet, but she’s still creative, and that needs to be encouraged.
In 1–2 years, she’ll be able to tackle the other crafts as well.
What I’m trying to say is: show children what you can do.
Take the time to pass on your knowledge.
Children are like dry sponges—they soak up everything new.
Be patient and stay calm.
The results will bring you a lot of joy.
Best regards,
Conni