Knitting as an activity is something a lot of people associate with the older generation. When we picture somebody knitting, it is much more likely to be our grandmother we recall than a young child; however, knitting has many benefits for children and young people and can be a valuable hobby to develop. Do you need further convincing? Read on to find out how knitting is beneficial to children.
Skill building
Knitting builds all manner of skills in children and adults alike. Reading patterns, counting stitches, handling needles and fixing mistakes equips children with valuable skills that will stay with them for life. The handling of wool and needles aids fine motor skill development, while the patience it requires is a valuable life lesson.
The best part is that these skills grow with the child. They can begin with knitting kits equipped with everything they need to get started, such as knitting kits from Wool Couture, and progress to either more complex kits and patterns, standalone patterns, or even creating their own work.
Mindfulness
With the increasing number of children and young people suffering from mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, it has never been more important to ensure they have healthy avenues to practice mindfulness and relaxation. So severe is the current crisis in childhood mental health that The Children’s Society found that seven per cent of 10- to 15-year-olds say they are unhappy with their life.
The repetitive action of knitting is used as a mindfulness tool by many adults and works just as well for children, providing them with the opportunity to switch off from the stresses of life and become lost in the repetition.
In-built reward system
Knitting has a rewards system that speaks to children, as they get to keep their creations and will be able to look back over past projects to see how their skills have developed. This extrinsic reward system works brilliantly with children, giving them an external means of measuring and tracking their successes and spurring them on to continue and improve.