For my “day job” I get to hang out with elementary school kids and teach them sewing and arts and crafts. It’s kind of the best- I’m still half-surprised it’s my job. And for a couple golden weeks each summer, I get to teach my absolute favorite class- knitting.
We have a range of ages- last week we had a dozen children from 6 to 10. Some had knit before, and some had never even touched a knitting needle. We started with finger knitting, letting the kids get used to playing with yarn, and getting them used to the idea of pulling loops into other loops (a surprisingly difficult concept for some of the little ones).
One girl was enjoying her finger knitting so much, she did it all week- ending up with a finger-knit tube almost 60 feet long. She then took her finger-knitting and sewed it together in a spiral, making a multi-colored rug that she was really proud of. 
When a kid gets bored of finger knitting (which most do), we move on to loom knitting with the Knifty Knitter. I am completely in favor of the Knifty Knitter now- a position I would never have taken even a ouple years ago. What I once thought of as “cheating,” I now see for what it is: a way for kids (or anyone, really) who don’t quite have the motor skills to actually knit.
The kids this year made adorable hats (with pompoms), fingerless gloves, bags, and even a tiny hedgehog stuffed animal. (This is a glove in progress:)
And every class, we get a kid or two who wants to try their hand at “stick knitting.” This year 9 of our 13 students broke out their needles. It was a record!
There is nothing more adorable than a whole classroom of kids, needles clicking, concentrating on their projects and chatting about whatever it is that kids chat about. (I wanted to take a picture to share with you, but I figured their parents might have reservations about having their kids pictures up on the internet. So, you can look at my student’s knitting project- her second ever! I believe it ended up being a very small pot holder.)
Have you ever knit with kids? How did it go?
On the Needles 
I just taught my first Fiber Enrichment class this past spring to 6 willing middle schoolers and loved it. They were so sweet and interested and excited. Your job sounds amazing 🙂
That’s awesome! Kids are the best!
Allison, you are sharing a gift for a lifetime with these kids! I think it’s wonderful that you are helping launch another generation who will love and appreciate the joys of creating. I love the image of them sitting around and chatting while they knit!
Aw, shucks 🙂
What an awesome job!
My 6-year-old granddaughter shows an interest now and then and I go along with it. It usually lasts about 5 minutes and then she’d rather draw, which is fine. Eventually I know it’ll hold her attention long enough to start a project.
In the meantime, I answer her questions about each project, and lately her favorite thing is pointing out all the mitres in the house (frames, moulding, etc) after I taught her about mitred squares in the,Afghan I’m making.
It’s fun!