Handwork is a most rewarding skill for children to learn – boys and girls alike. It has huge benefits to the child in that it develops fine motor control and dexterity, imagination and planning skills, creativity, sustained concentration and patience. The end result is that the child makes a useful item from scratch which leaves them a sense pride in their abilities and personal achievement. All the projects foster pre-reading and numeracy skills too.
Using the Waldorf handwork curriculum as a guide, I offer:
5 – 6 year olds
- Simple wool stitching and appliqué work to make a bag.
- Sewing and stuffing an animal made from felt.
- Simple circular and horizontal weaving projects.
- Making a simple cloth doll and sewing it’s clothes according to the character the child would like – a mermaid, cricket/soccer player, ballerina, gymnast or fairy.
Grade 1 Children
- Make a knitting bag decorated with wool stitching and felt appliqué.
- Make a pair of wooden knitting needles.
- Learn to knit and make a simple animal for the 1st project.
Grade 2 Children
- Continue with knitting projects involving following a pattern which involves decreasing and increasing to make a knitted animal requiring sewing up and stuffing.
Grade 3 Children
- Continued knitting projects adding in purl knitting.
Many projects are offered in between the basic curriculum and the children themselves initiate their own projects that simply require guidance with planning and execution.
If your child is keen to join these crafting sessions, do Contact Us – See our gallery for photos of the projects done by passed pupils which are sure to inspire.