5 Things Kids Can Learn from Crochet
You might be asking yourself what kinds of things can my child learn from crochet? Isn’t it just some yarn and a hook? Why would I want to include it in my homeschool curriculum beyond craft time? Wait, isn’t crochet just for grandma’s anyway?
Hi! This is Lisa from Stitch In Progress and Melanie asked me to share with you some ways that kids can learn from crocheting and how crochet might fit into your homeschool curriculum.
As a little girl, I used to sit on my grandmother’s porch and watch her create art with yarn. She taught my brother and I how to finger crochet chains and we used to compete to see who could make the longest chain. Once we had that down, she let me experiment with a hook and some yarn too.
As a parent now myself, I have made it a point to pass this skill down to my daughter and when she turned 9, she learned to crochet. There are so many benefits to teaching children how to crochet. It isn’t just a hobby that they will grow out of. Crochet is a skill that can last a lifetime…and it isn’t just for grandmas!
So, what can kids learn from crochet beyond how to make a scarf?
Math
Yes, good old math skills are a huge part of crochet! And not just counting stitches either. A crocheter has to keep track of all kinds of numbers: stitch count, row count, within a stitch count. And then we run into increasing and decreasing rows to make a pattern bigger or smaller.
Crocheters also need to learn how to measure and determine the gauge of their work to make sure it will fit. A tape measure is always nearby when crocheting and measurement is a big deal.
Fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination
Crochet uses both hands and whether the child is right or left handed, both will come into play with each stitch.
Children will learn to hold their hook in one hand and wrap yarn with the other. Then the yarn hand has to hold onto the finished work to keep it steady while the hook hand moves back and forth to grab the yarn.
All of these motions help to build fine motor skills and hand to eye coordination. This is why younger kids need to start with fingers and playing with yarns and then move to using a hook later.
Checking work and attention to detail
One of the skills that my daughter learned early was to pay attention to detail and to check her work before moving on. This is a great skill that transcends crochet and that kids need to get a lot of practice with.
My daughter would get frustrated when she was working the same pattern as me and hers would end up lopsided, while mine remained straight. I worked with her many times to develop the habit of checking her work before she moved on! Building that foundation and checking it before you move on is a habit that works for all of us!
Art and design
Let’s not forget that crochet is an art form and can be powerful. Kids can learn how to take a simple string and create something beautiful.
At first, my daughter followed a basic pattern, but later on, I let her come up with her own ideas and try them out. She did a great job and sat down and used those math skills to plan out her first scarf pattern. (Of course, this proud mom had to post the pattern on her blog – The Squishy Rainbow Scarf)
Charity and compassion
Another great opportunity to teach our kids about charity and compassion is through their crochet hooks. There are SO many wonderful charities that accept crochet items and my daughter loves to make things for other people.
You could have your kids make a list of things to crochet and where they could donate in your own community. Some examples include scarves for homeless people, lap blankets for wheelchair-bound people, hats and blankets for preemies, blankets for those who have lost their homes in fires or floods, blankets or pillows for hospital patients, hats for cancer patients, shawls for nursing home residents, and the list goes on and on.
Everyone feels loved when a handmade gift is presented to them.
So, are you convinced that your child needs to learn crochet now?
Stitch In Progress offers a full crochet kids camp online for kids to learn all the basics of crochet and make 5 cute projects that they can keep or share with someone.
Add crochet to your homeschool curriculum today for just $27
The course includes video and written instructions and access to a private Facebook group to help answer any questions and to share what your child has created.
Parents can learn along with their kids and the great thing about online courses is that you can go back and replay what you need and start and stop as you need to. It offers a lot of flexible learning that you don’t get in a scheduled class.
Let us know if you crochet! Have you taught your child to crochet already? How did it go? Have you included crochet as part of your homeschool curriculum?
