Kids have really amazing minds, they want to know a lot, everything is interesting to them and they learn things so fast with practically no effort. Because of this, it's very wise to try and help them develop skills in some useful areas and obtain some valuable knowledge that will come in handy later on in their lives. Just make sure that the learning process doesn't turn into a boring thing but instead remains a fun activity. And if you're looking for a skill developing activity that's both fun for you and your kids, choosing sewing is probably the best way to go. Not only will they enjoy practicing it but it will also develop their creativity and imagination and will come in handy when they get older, saving or earning them money. So how can you help them learn sewing? Where should you start and what will you need? Well let's find out right here and right now with these following tips that will tell you how to teach your kids to sew. Tip #1: Assess their affinities Before you start the very activity of teaching your kid to sew, you should first see if they have any interest in it. If they don't, you must not force it on them because in that case, they will most likely end up hating it and you don't want that. According to Hellosewing the solution is simple - just wait for a while. If you practice sewing in front of them often, they will certainly want to learn it at some point. Wait for that moment and the entire process will be much more productive and efficient. Tip #2: Gather the necessary supplies. You can't ride a horse if you don't have the actual horse, right? Well you can't sew either if you don't have the proper tools and supplies. Therefore, you need to gather all the necessary equipment first, and then focus on teaching sewing. Now let's see what are the required essentials for your little class. Naturally, you'll be needing quality threads and needles, as well as fabrics of various characteristics, thick, thin, stretch, denim and so on. Some of them are complex for beginners but your kid won't be a beginner forever so worry not. Next up on the list are scissors, pins, pincushions, seam rippers and an embroidery hoop if you plan on doing embroidery at some point. Store them in separate containers for easy access. Of course, you'll need the usual essentials for the sewing machine as well, but they come with the machine in the original box so there's no need to buy them separately. Tip #3: Start off easy When you start teaching your kid how to sew, you shouldn't put them in front of a sewing machine right away obviously because that would be dangerous and inefficient. Instead, you should begin with something easy and simple so that they can first get accustomed to it and reach a certain skill level. Felt finger puppets are a great start because they are both fun and easy. Give them a small sheet of material and have them stitch fabrics in the shape of hearts or smiley faces on it. When they master that, gradually move on to more complex tasks. Always keep an eye on them while they work because you don't want them to accidentally hurt themselves. Once you notice that they've become very good at sewing by hand, don't be afraid to switch over to a machine. Buy a beginner friendly, or even better, children friendly model like hello kitty or something similar and teach them the basics,without mounting the needle nor the thread. As soon as they get accustomed to using the machine, mount the needle and thread and let them sew away. Tip #4: Provide support and help for your little student Kids like to do things by themselves but sometimes, they just can't so they need a bit of help from you. When you see them struggling with a task, offer them your help and explain that it won't make their project any less their own if they accept it. The thing they had issues with will be impossible at first go, difficult at the second, and doable at the third, as long as you show them what you're doing when lending them a hand. Tip #5: Enjoy the bonding These moments you'll be spending together will be very special so don't forget to enjoy them while they last. Don't get mad or disappointed if your kid makes a few mistakes here and there, they are learning after all, meaning those situations come naturally. Make sure that the atmosphere always remains joyous and entertaining because this is a bonding activity first and a teaching moment second. This concludes our list of tips for teaching your kids how to sew. The rest is up to you. Go ahead and enjoy some quality time with your children! Thanks to Helen Spencer for this post on teaching kids to sew. Helen is the founder of HelloSewing, a blog providing sewing tips and sewing machine advice. She loves all things DIY- crafts, drawing, decorating, making beautiful things out of scratch with her own hands and above all – she simply loves sewing! You can get in touch with her on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.
