photo credit: Andres Rueda
Sewing by hand is becoming a lost art. It is something that is often handed down from one generation to the next; it is learned. My daughters (and also my son) are taught by me, I was taught by my mom, who was taught by her mom (my grandmother) and so on… back as far as we can remember.
So, if you are able to sew, try to make time to teach your children, even if it is just enough so that they can sew on a button, mend a pair of socks, or hem a pair of pants. Sewing by hand is one of those things that cannot be learned by just watching; you MUST do it and practice it in order to learn.
If you do not know how to sew, it may be worthwhile to you to find someone that can teach you, even if it is the basics. Even boys can benefit from knowing how to repair their buttons and holes and hems.
The teacher in me is always on a search for the educational value of the things I teach my children. So, what can be learned by learning to sew? First and foremost is hand-eye coordination. Your hands and eyes must work together to thread the needle and complete the task or project. Next, math skills will be used as well. What amount of thread, cloth, buttons, etc. will be needed? You could even help your children to calculate the cost of their projects. Reading and comprehension will be utilized if your children are using a pattern book or project sheet. If a task or project is being done for someone else or as a gift to charity, your children can also learn to care for others and show kindness to bring a little joy to the life of another. All of this from a little needle and thread and some time? Yes!
So, the next time you have something to sew, try to get your children involved. There is much to be learned and you can have some memorable fun in the process.
About the author: Alicia H. Tucker is a homeschool mom of three, after having taught in public schools for over ten years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Technology. She is a freelance writer and is currently working on writing her first book.
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