Sew Happy

Kids create.
Given some spare time and a few simple supplies, kids will create.
I may be a little biased with my love of arts, but this creation quality in children isn't unique to mine, or gender, or kids from a certain household income or background.
The best part? They create with carefree abandon.
Very little inhibition and loads of idea's.

Absolutely, I plan projects throughout the week that open minds up to creative endeavors.
But half of their projects are developed and executed without any guidance, in moments of freedom.
We definitely avoid filling those empty gaps in the day with organized activity.

 (The Brilliant illustrator, Julie Morstad, 

first introduced to me by a dear friend living in Beijing)

 By Miss C

 By Miss O

OFten there is even a process to their self-led activities, including design-making.

Slightly dress obsessed, we have hoards of potential dress patterns in rotation!

A few years ago I introduced weaving as part of our Handwork activities.
There were so many gorgeous projects I had in mind, but the kids weren't biting.

Recently, they noted the looms and took it up of their own free will.
Interest-based activity, wins again.

They are completely absorbed.
They look for moments to pick up their work and continue concentrating, choosing colour schemes and following a patterns; over, under, over, under...
They debate what it will become, who it will be gifted to and decide how complicated a project they are convinced they can tackle next.
They struggle through mistakes, ask each other for help and put it away when it causes too much frustration.
They return to it the next day, ready and refreshed with newfound enthusiasm.

You may well be mistaken if you see the arts as beneficial for only obvious reasons.

Creative endeavors should have a stellar reputation and take precedent, whatever the learning environment.