Is Crochet Good for Kids? 5 Reasons to Start Today.

Most parents think crochet is just a hobby… but it actually does something much bigger for kids.

It is an understatement to say that crochet has changed my life, both personally and professionally. I’m lucky enough to have first learned to crochet when I was 10 years old.

Many people pick up crochet as adults, but this wonderful hobby has proven benefits for people of all ages, including kids.

I had a hard time narrowing down my list of the benefits of crochet for kids to highlight here, so I’m giving you a more extensive list in this 2-part series. I’m so excited to share these 10 benefits with you! I’ll cover the first 5 in this post. The last one is my favorite, and you don’t want to miss it.

If we haven’t met before, I’m Christine, an online crochet teacher for kids ages 8-12. I’ve been crocheting for over 32 years, since I was 10 years old, and I have taught over 250 kids to crochet in the last 2+ years.

Let’s get right into it!

1. Crochet is a screen-free activity.

This is a HUGE benefit of crochet for people of all ages, but especially for kids. Screens seem to be everywhere in life, and it’s very hard for kids to escape them, whether it’s video games or using screens for learning. Crochet offers a respite from the screens.

Yes, your child will more than likely learn crochet stitches and patterns from videos or other online resources. Once they are comfortable with what they are working on, the screens can go away, and they can immerse themselves in their project. I have been doing this for the past several months.

When I’m crocheting, I don’t use any screens, just focus on what I’m making. A side benefit of this is that there’s less of a chance of them making a mistake, and having to frog their work. (Frogging is when you have to take either all or part of a crochet project apart. It’s sad, but inevitable.)

2. Crochet improves problem-solving skills.

It is inevitable that challenges and problems will arise when your child is working on learning a crochet skill or working on a crochet project. It’s just part of being a crocheter.

The cool thing about crochet is that it helps kids build their problem solving skills with every crochet project they make. Sometimes it might be that their project isn’t turning out the way they envisioned. Or maybe they encounter a new stitch or abbreviation that they’ve never seen before. Both of these situations require them to find a solution, in order to make their project successfully.

3. Crochet helps kids express themselves.

This is one of the biggest benefits of crochet that I’ve experienced in my life, since the time I was a child and just learning to crochet. Despite what you see online in my social media posts, I’m a very quiet person, and a huge introvert. I’ve been that way for my entire life. Sometimes it’s hard for me to express myself and show my creative side through words or other ways. So, I turn to crochet to help me show my creative side to others.

There are so many ways that kids can be creative when it comes to crochet. They can choose the crochet projects they want to work on, the colours and type of yarn that they use, the size they want their finished piece to be, and so much more. The patterns I create for my course, Crochet Made Easy! (click the link below this article to learn more) are also meant to serve as guides, and I encourage my students to make the pieces their own.

4. Crochet improves patience and focus.

If you want to improve your child’s patience and focus, get them crocheting! Patience is built through crochet in a few ways. First, it takes determination and perseverance to learn new skills, and get over the challenges encountered along the way. Second, most crochet projects take time to make, whether it’s a few hours, or even a few weeks or months. For example, I’ve been working on crocheting a blanket for the past 2 months, and I’m only halfway finished!

Crochet also requires a great deal of focus. This helps to ensure that your child is progressing in their skills, and not making mistakes in the pattern their working on. I find that as soon as my mind starts to wander from what I’m currently crocheting, I end up missing a stitch and having to go back and fix it later. The same is true for kids as they’re crocheting.

5. Crochet relieves stress and anxiety.

It is very hard to deny that we all encounter periods of stress and anxiety in our lives. This is especially true for children, with academic and peer pressures, busy schedules, and trying to manage everything. I can remember being a rather anxious child myself (still am as an adult, if I’m being honest).

The repetitive and calming nature of crochet is very soothing. With practice, kids get into the rhythm of the stitches, and can feel their anxiety and stress melt away. I can always tell when I’m particularly stressed or anxious because I need more crochet time in my schedule, and find myself crocheting instead of working on other more important tasks.

I was only able to cover the first 5 of the numerous benefits of crochet for kids in this post. Which is why this is a 2-part series! Come back in 2 weeks to learn about 5 more benefits of crochet for kids. If your child would like to learn to crochet with me, click here to learn about my FREE Crochet Starter Guide, that will get your child successfully from the very beginning.