I started a knitting club at my church for Junior High students - alas, only girls showed up and as my small group of regulars grew up into high school, my knitting club disappeared. But don't be so sad! Now that I work after care at an elementary school, I decided to teach a few girls that expressed some interest. The next day I brought 3 sets of needles and 2 skeins of yarn- way more than I thought I would need. I had 6 kids begging me to teach them to knit, including 2 boys!! I definitely didn't have enough materials; we had to use pens instead of real knitting needles (Which by the way, I HIGHLY recommend for teaching the cast-on. You trace the path of your needles beautifully on the inside of your hand).
I rolled with it. I started to realize that knitting practices fine motor skills in children, and it really helps the high-strung to busy their hands and minds and keep out of trouble. Plus, there is instant gratification in the project. When I ran out of needles and pens, I taught a first grader how to finger knit. I figured it would be easier and less frustrating than trying to maneuver the needles for her. This is her after every row: *GASP!!* HEY LOOK! IT'S GETTING LONGER!! I can't wait for her to finish that scarf and wear it proudly to school. And yet, that isn't even my greatest success story. One of the boys was so excited to knit, he would finish his homework in record time so he could knit for the remaining two hours he had before his mom came to pick him up. He's been taking his knitting home and coming back with progress every day. Once while in the gym, all the kids were playing kickball, and this 2nd grade boy insisted on sitting on the stage with me so he could knit instead. You know what he said? "Miss Jamael, I'm sad for all these kids... because they are missing out on all the fun of knitting." Quote of the year.
Jamael