I only offered sewing as a choice a few times this year, and I hope that, in the future, I offer it more. The first few times that children sew, they really explore it: touching the needle, making long long lines of thread, and using as many colors as they can. I really enjoy letting kids explore a new material, but I'm less of an expert at helping them to become experts. Some children might really like to use this tool to express their understanding or create something that they treasure. I always think back to how children in Reggio use clay as a language, and it blows me away. But that clay work starts as free exploration, and when children become experts at using the tool as a language, they are able to use that tool to communicate. Perhaps that is possible with sewing.
Maybe the tips on this blog, maya*made, will be helpful for those just starting out sewing. I've pulled a few good tips from it, too. And I'm trying to fashion some homemade embroidery hoops out of cardboard instead of buying more wooden ones...I'll try to share that later.
Allie, I'm so glad to see another early childhood teacher using sewing and real, authentic materials with young children. I'm currently teaching Special Needs Preschool, and my students love sewing. It's so great for developing fine motor, perceptual motor, math, and language skills, and inspiring creativity and problem-solving, among other important skills. I agree with what you stated regarding the Reggio philosophy and that sewing could be an extension of one of the 100 languages. Unfortunately, some members of my school's administration seem to be freaking out over the thought of preschool students handling needles....(as though I would let them just run wild with them). So, I'm trying to gather evidence to present to them to support using sewing activities in the classroom. I've already let my kids explore with the plastic needles and mesh canvas, and now some are ready and able to graduate to small tapestry needles. Have you ever had to defend your choice to let young children handle needles? If so, what evidence did you present? Any suggestions? I'd really appreciate feedback from other teachers.
ReplyDeleteSorry it has taken a few days for me to get back to you about this!
ReplyDeleteI have never had to defend the choice to sew. I used to use plastic needles, but then I bought blunt tapestry needles and we used fabrics that naturally had some holes or were loosely knit, like lace and burlap (I love burlap). But then you realize that even as an adult, it might be a little uncomfortable to poke yourself with a needle...and that just makes you more careful, I think. So we start with the blunt needles so children feel more mastery over their sewing, and then we will use more regular fabrics and normal, pointy needles.
Using real needles is like using anything else real in the classroom - real plates, real glass jars, real wooden blocks - why replace everything with plastic? If children never get the opportunity to work with real world items as young children, then what happens when they do? How do we learn about delicacy and concentration?
These are just my opinions, and I have not come into opposition with anyone. I think a transition to real needles is perhaps the route for you, especially when the children get bored with mesh...they'll want to embroider something a bit more interesting for themselves.