As delightful new sewing projects continue in our home, I am made aware of the benefits that can only come from working with your hands. It starts with learning to take flat pieces of material and cut and work with them until they come together to make a 3-dimensional finished product. They not only have purpose, but are full of love and care.
These benefits come with all crafts, not just sewing. What has surprised me the most are the changes in character that have been specifically enhanced by early sewing experiences.
As you teach your child to sew, or learn yourself, you will begin to see these same benefits gradually take shape:
1.) Try New Things and Use Imagination~
2.) Mistakes are OK ~
I love the story of Thomas Edison. When asked by a reporter, “How long did it take for you to invent the light bulb?”, he stated, “I did 1000 experiments before I invented it”. The reporter responded, “It is amazing you continued on. Wasn’t that discouraging?” Thomas Edison answered, “Of course not – I learned 999 times how not to make it”! So instead of having an attitude of “I can’t” when things go wrong, we say “Let’s keep trying”!
3.) Perseverance and Confidence ~
With each completed project, perseverance and confidence grow. It is a circular thing, growing with each little success, readying you to tackle more complexity.
4.) Help and Encourage Others ~ A Homemaker In Training You take joy in sharing what you know and help others to learn the same skills. An example would be to teach a younger girl to knit, casting on stitches and showing her how to knit rows. The process helps to mature us in our ability to transfer our knowledge into words.
May the days and years that you spend with your daughters sewing and working on various projects be delightful times of learning and growing together. You will both reap the multiple benefits!
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” ~1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12
I’m sharing/linked-up at A Handful Of Heart Monday, Monday’s Musings, Natural Living, Homestead Barn Hop, Better Mom Monday, Make-It-Yourself Monday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Frugal Days~ Sustainable Ways, and Motivational Monday.
~ Jacqueline
What a encouraging post! I love that the teaching has more than one meaning
very good points, there is nothing like teaching a young child a craft, and I love the quote you picked at the end.
I really need to do more of this! I don’t know much about sewing or crocheting or knitting, and I’m not at all crafty by nature. But the Lord keeps places articles like this before me, so I think He just might be trying to grab my attention! Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog yesterday. It meant a ton and has stuck with me today!
Thanks for sharing this!! I love the idea of working with our hands and the lessons that can be learned from this. I didn’t learn to sew until I was an adult (and I’m still learning) and I plan to teach my girls from a young age to sew and work with their hands (if, Lord Willing we have girls). Thanks for sharing this today!
Let’s not forget our sons!
I’ve been teaching my older two sons (9.5 & 8) to knit and will soon be teaching my 5 year old son. I’ll also be teaching them to sew in the near future. Then I have 2 little girls (3 and 20 months) to teach, too! Such fun!
I totally agree, Leah! Our boys both made quilts and enjoyed it very much. It taught them patience and good hand/eye coordination. Thanks for reminding us