Yarn Crafts for Preschoolers?

[Spring Lily]

My 3 yr old DD really wants to learn how to knit or crochet. She loves sitting next to me while I knit and plays with some scrap yarn and a couple knitting needles or a crochet hook. She says she's making sweaters for me. :

The trouble is, she's a little young to really learn how to do these things. I tried to show her crocheting, since I thought that might be more manageable than knitting (all those stitches that can drop!), but it's still a little too much for her.

Does anyone know of anything that kids this age can actually do? I was thinking that latchhooking or needlepoint is still too advanced. There's got to be something though. Maybe with a small loom...??

[adoremybabe]

My 3 year old started with making cereal necklaces. I used yarn, a darning needle and fruitloop type cereal.

It helps strengthen dexterity and coordination. It also gives the kids something fun to make and fun to eat!

[Aubergine68]

Freestyle needlepoint on a plastic canvas or with an embroidery hoop and a large blunt needle is usually ok for preschoolers, ime, actually. Sometimes I use a sharpie to draw a picture on the canvas for the child to try and follow, but freestyle is good too.

[just_lily]

Lace boards? You can buy them, but a really cost effective way is to get standard peg board from the hardware store and cut them down to size with a table saw. Best if you have a couple of friends that would like some, because you will end up with a lot.

Then put a bit of masking tape on the end of a piece of yarn like the end of a shoelace, and let your dd weave in and out of the holes.

There are also those knitting tube things you can get at craft stores. I have never used one so I don't know exactly how they work, but they are meant for kids.

[Aubergine68]

Originally Posted by just_lily

Lace boards? You can buy them, but a really cost effective way is to get standard peg board from the hardware store and cut them down to size with a table saw. Best if you have a couple of friends that would like some, because you will end up with a lot.

Then put a bit of masking tape on the end of a piece of yarn like the end of a shoelace, and let your dd weave in and out of the holes.

There are also those knitting tube things you can get at craft stores. I have never used one so I don't know exactly how they work, but they are meant for kids.

I don't know about the knitting tube things -- I think they would be a little complex for my 3 yr old. Maybe my 5 yr old might get it.

Good idea about the lacing boards. Never thought of using scraps of peg board. I have made them often as crafts for kids -- cut cardboard to shape, punch holes in it, take a string of yarn, put packing or masking tape on the end to make a "needle" and tie the other end to the cardboard shape for sewing.

How about string art winding yarn around nails in a board or something?

[katiemfree]

I make pom poms with my 3 YO, he can wind yarn around a block, then I slip off the loops, tie in the middle and cut. They are fun. Ditto the beading too. We have tons of buttons so he makes button strings. I wonder about finger knitting? Maybe an older 3 YO could get the hang of it.

[flapjack]

A peg loom would definitely work.

[BeanyMama]

yeah! peg loom! ds got one last christmas with some wool and really adores it.

[Spring Lily]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I don't know why I hadn't thought of beading, that is a great idea! And has some immediate gratification, which is good.

She's got some lacing toys, which are dolls with clothes that you lace on to them, but they're still very hard for her really. Maybe I should encourage that more.

What is a peg loom? And how does it work? Do craft stores have them?

[flapjack]

http://www.stewardwood.org/resources/DIYpegloom.htm

[BeanyMama]

very cool link!

here's our loom: http://www.forsmallhands.com/store/i...x&cPath=74_126