Sunshine parent Emily shares a thread on a popular sustainability activity.
Naoko (Sustainability Lead) asked me if I would like to share my sewing skills with Sunshine children and I thought, "Why not!”
Although it has been only a few lessons a month, the satisfaction of seeing a project come to life through their own hands brings a sense of accomplishment and joy to everyone.
Before the classes started I was worried about teaching little children sewing. I thought, "What if they won’t enjoy it or escape from the classroom?” But that did not happen. I’m always surprised how fast they get the skills and how calm and relaxed they are when they are sewing.
At the beginning of lessons children choose their own patterns or they can make their own. After drawing the pattern on the fabric they can choose thread colors, how many colors they want to use and where to use them.
Then we decide what kind of stitch to use for sewing. The stitch they choose depends on their sewing experience. After they observe how to sew, they continue to work on it. Usually it takes half an hour to one hour to complete their work. It was amazing to hear that they enjoyed it and they wanted to do more.
I feel teaching children how to do embroidery can offer a range of valuable benefits:
Fine motor skills development: Embroidery involves precise hand movements, promoting the development of fine motor skills. Children refine their coordination and dexterity as they manipulate the needle and thread.
Focus and patience: Embroidery is a patient and detail-oriented craft. Teaching children to embroider encourages them to concentrate on the task at hand, fostering patience and the ability to focus for extended periods.
Creativity and self-expression: Embroidery provides a creative outlet for children to express themselves. They can choose colors, patterns, and designs, allowing for individuality in their projects and boosting their creativity.
Sense of accomplishment: completing an embroidery project gives children a tangible sense of accomplishment. This can boost their self-esteem and provide a positive reinforcement for their efforts.
Relaxation and stress reduction: Like adults, children can benefit from the calming and meditative aspects of embroidery. Engaging in a creative, hands-on activity can serve as a stress-reliever and contribute to their overall well-being.
Practical life skills: Learning to sew and embroider instills practical life skills that may be useful in the future. Understanding basic sewing techniques can be valuable for simple repairs and alterations.
Screen-free time: In a world dominated by screens, teaching children traditional crafts like embroidery offers a welcome break from digital devices. It encourages them to engage with the tangible world around them.
In summary, teaching children how to do embroidery goes beyond the craft itself. It provides a holistic learning experience, encompassing physical, cognitive, and emotional development, while fostering creativity, patience, and a sense of cultural awareness.
I am especially thankful to Naoko. She gave me thoughtful suggestions for how to work with children and she helped children to join the class each time. And Nathalia (Olive parent) not only took all the pictures and shared with parents but also helped children go smoothly into the class. They made everything possible.
Emily (Jiahui) He
Hazel and Sequoia Parent