| The ancient crafts of knitting and crochet span | | | | learn, and pass down to their children. |
| many many generations. We can trace members | | | | As long as we can encourage our children and |
| of any family back to the days when knitting was | | | | grandchildren to participate in things that are |
| done as a matter of necessity, particularly in cold | | | | exciting and reap rewards, there will always be a |
| climates. We went through a phase in the height | | | | place for lets use an example of knitting, at the |
| of its fashion where knitting particularly, became a | | | | most basic level. |
| very lucrative home industry. Something mums | | | | Remember the old wooden cotton reels, and 4 |
| could do at home while raising her children. | | | | nails hammered in the top, commonly referred to |
| These days, with the advent of Gameboy. Xbox | | | | as a Knitting Nancy? Well, why not go hunt up an |
| and now Wii, our children are being given tools to | | | | old wooden cotton reel and bang a few nails into |
| sustain their ever increasing hunger for instant | | | | the top because I can assure you, time spent |
| results, instant gratification and instant satisfaction. | | | | engaging a youngster to create something with |
| Knitting, and indeed crochet do not fit into any of | | | | these simple items, will force them to think |
| the computer game console selections because | | | | outside the square in which they learn and play! |
| quite simply, they are not that "instant" | | | | The simplicity of French Knitting (the term used |
| Think about these three vital things: | | | | to describe this form of knitting) is so |
| 1. Children who do not learn how we gather the | | | | fundamental, it defies all reasoning. What can they |
| things we need in order to survive, have no idea | | | | make with just "sausages" of yarns? Well this is |
| of their value, or currency in our evolving world. | | | | the fun part! You can make smaller "sausages" |
| Take for example, the youngster who was asked | | | | and sew each one into a circle, and then link the |
| in her class, "Where does wool come from?" her | | | | next one, like a chain, and then you have a scarf!. |
| thoughtful answer came after pondering the | | | | Make a long enough one, and spiral it around itself |
| question, and her reply was simply: "Spotlight". | | | | and soon you can make a rug, or a coaster or |
| (Spotlight is a chain store here in Australia that | | | | lots of circles joined together could make another |
| stocks many craft items, including a fairly | | | | style of scarf, or even a hat or some slipper!. Set |
| comprehensive yarn and fiber section!) | | | | the goal, and then go chase it with your child or |
| 2. Children who are given the tools to make the | | | | grandchild. |
| things that they want and desire, very often | | | | You know, you may just surprise yourself. It |
| inherit a value and currency associated with the | | | | may just be fun. You might, just might, turn |
| item that they have made, rendering it far more | | | | something so basic, into something that fills up the |
| "precious" than something disposable or store | | | | generation gap and brings you and your young |
| bought. It becomes something with a worth, or | | | | one closer together, and make you elite in your |
| currency, such as pride and confidence, two | | | | own "club". |
| extremely vital ingredients of encouragement and | | | | What have you got to lose? Except the time of |
| growth, both physically and mentally, which has | | | | day, and lets face it, the love and attention we |
| got to be positive. | | | | can bestow on our little ones, whilst learning |
| 3. By instilling certain educational recreations, our | | | | something so cool and so exciting, is purely an |
| children will grasp the techniques that we were | | | | investment of love, and at the same time, giving |
| taught, and hold them with the respect that they | | | | them skills to share with their peers, and best of |
| deserve, and provide them with the platform on | | | | all, their own children. So? Why are you still |
| which their own children can (and inevitably WILL) | | | | reading? Haven't you got some nails to hammer? |