As a mom of three I know the value of activities that both engage and teach kids. Learning embroidery is one of those golden activities. Each time my kids stitch, I can see them learn and grow. Any effort I have to put in as the mom is easily paid back in benefits to my kiddos. Here are 5 benefits of learning embroidery, for kids (and adults).

Benefit 1 – Hand eye coordination

Learning to control your needle is a major benefit of learning embroidery. Each small movement improves hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. Successful needle points translate to more control over useful things like handwriting and cutting with scissors. Not to mention the challenge to holding the hoop in one hand and using the needle with the other. Doing 2 separate actions at the same time is quite a feet.

Benefit 2 – Patience

Embroidery is a marathon sport not a sprint. Even a small hoop will take some time to prep, stitch and then finish. Taking the time to slow down and work on each step or stitch teaches patience. So many of the things our kids do are centered around instant gratification. Press this button, see this light or hear this sound. Embroidery offers the opportunity to work on a single project over a period of time. Each time getting a little closer to the goal. Then, finally the big pay off of finishing the hoop.

Benefit 3 – Creativity

Creativity is my favorite benefit of learning embroidery. Each hoop is a new chance to express yourself, and test out new ideas. Embroidery is very open ended. There are only a few “rules” to making an embroidery. The rest is up to the creator. They get to decide what to stitch, how to stitch it, what colors to make it and so on. The creative opportunities are endless.

Benefit 4 – Quite Focus

Embroidery take a fair amount of concentration, especially if you are just learning. The resulting benefit is quiet focus. A kid stitching can’t be running around, or playing a video game. They probably can’t even stitch while watching a show (I haven’t tested this with my kids, but I bet they would give us stitching and start just watching). This means stitching time is quiet time. Time to focus on the task at hand. I love to see my kids fully focused on their little hoop, trying to make each stitch as perfect as possible.

Benefit 5 – Pride in self

There is nothing quite like a kid who is dying to show you their last creation. “Mom, Mom, Moooom! Look what I did!!” Finishing an embroidery hoop that a child has emotionally and physically invested in, produces a special kind of pride in a job well done. It’s the kinds of pride that builds a person up from the inside and helps them be a better person in the future. I hope all kids can have a chance to create something they are proud of.

Don’t miss this!

Be sure to check out this post: 5 Embroidery tips for kids, to learn my practical tips fo helping a kid learn embroidery.

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