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Teach Kids Knitting

By Holly Campbell

If you've kids, you might want to teach them how to knit. That way you are not only teaching your children an art, but you are also keeping the skill alive in the future.

While knitting is great for developing fine motor skills and concentration, more importantly, knitting strengthens the bond with your kids.

Some parents think that knitting is difficult for children. In fact, most kids are ready to learn to knit from about age 6 and upwards. And, boys enjoy knitting just as much as girls! Now, how to teach kids knitting?

First, get some yarn and needles. If you've some spare ones around in the house, use them. Otherwise, get a standard DK acrylic yarn and some short needles (10" or less) from your local yarn shop.

It may be tempting to purchase novelty yarns but these can be difficult to work with and are not ideal for teaching knitting. Also, choose thick, light-colored yarn as it will be for your children to see the stitches.

You might also want to consider special knitting needles designed for kids, where the needles are different colors. These needles are useful in helping kids differentiate between the right needle and the left needle.

Kids learn fast but like all other things, progress is usually slow at the start so please be very patient when you teach kids knitting. Keep the lesson short and fun or your kids will find that knitting is boring.

Use this knitting rhyme to help kids remember how to do the knit stitch – In through the front door, once around the back, peek through the window, and off jumps Jack!

And to help kids remember the steps for the purl stitch – Down through the bunny hole, around the big tree, up pops the bunny, and off goes she!

When your children have mastered the basics of knitting, they're now ready to knit their first simple project. The internet is a great place to search for easy free knitting patterns for children – hats, mittens, socks, purses and many more.

With a little patience, you can teach children knitting easily. Also, don't forget to praise their efforts. Children need to know they are doing well. And, those items which your children knit can be used for themselves, given as gifts, used to raise funds or even donated to your local charity. Have fun!

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