written by Nadine Wetzel-Curtis, St. Croix guide
“Watching a child makes it obvious that the development of his mind comes through his movements.” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori
Many of my favorite lessons to give are those which allow a child’s creative nature to become more visible: bookmaking, weaving, knitting, beading, “nets” (tracing a geometric solid onto paper, cutting and folding it in order to duplicate the solid out of paper), anything with the Box of Sticks (a geometry material), mandalas, shading, or illuminated letters to name a few. Children notice the materials I’m gathering and ask to join the lesson and I never need to remind them to be responsible for their follow-up work. I get to witness incredible perseverance as they learn to thread a needle, cast-on stitches, untangle thread, knit, or purl. They build stamina, increase their ability to ignore distractions, and focus all their senses on the task before them.
We apply color theory and design principles to our artwork using rich language: diagonal lines indicate speed and movement while straight lines give the impression of strength and structure. Cool colors appear passive and retreat into the background. We solve problems. “What could be added to this composition to bring it into balance?” “Will this piece of construction paper be enough for what I want to accomplish?” “How can I position the insets so that I can cut 8 shapes from this piece of paper?” Students practice patience, self-control, and gratitude as they share materials, too.
I get to witness joy in their creative journey and see their confidence bloom when classmates compliment each other on their creations. Will you show me how you did that? I’d like to make one, too! The transformative and grounding power of art and handwork is also clearly visible. After working with their handmade dough, one student assured me “your fingers just feel so GOOD after touching it!”
Art and handwork also provide a vehicle for practicing mental flexibility. “I thought I was going to make my mom a scarf but decided to make one for my favorite stuffy.” “I really like the color of that yarn but I’m not exactly sure what I should do with it. Maybe I’ll finger knit a necklace.” “I realized that I liked the way the yellow squares looked better this way so I changed them before I glued them down.”
You may recognize many of the skills I’ve described as “executive functioning skills,” or the name given to a family of brain processes that all work together to help you remember, plan, and do daily activities. Check out The Homeschool Resource for more!
Here are a few tips for greater handwork success at home:
Know that it will be messy. Really messy. Students know how to clean up in the classroom, expect them to do so at home. Do too much for a child and a child won’t do much for themselves.
Uninterrupted blocks of time are an incredible gift. The dishes & laundry can wait.
Expensive art supplies aren’t necessary. Cardboard and duct tape or a glue gun will surprise you.
Give yourself permission to be a beginner with your child. “I’m new at this” is one of my favorite mantras. Nothing models growth mindset like fumbling clumsily.
Let your child do their own project. This can be especially hard if you are showing your child something at which you excel. Sit on your hands or walk away if you need to.
Have fun!