sewing activity

Sewing activity is a Montessori practical life activity is designed for 3-6-year-old children to guide them how to sew beads on a cloth using a needle and thread.

In our previous lesson, we learned how to sew using lace. In this sewing video lesson, we will learn to sew beads using a needle.

Learning to sew helps build a positive impact on a child’s character development. It also provides educational, physical, and mental benefits in an exciting and fun way.

Purpose of Montessori Sewing Activity

Montessori sewing activity aims to develop order, concentration, coordination, and independence. This practical life activity enables the child to practice hand-eye coordination, and develop problem-solving skills.

There are a variety of Montessori-inspired sewing activities for primary-level children. Generally, sewing is introduced with lacing. 

Materials Required for a Sewing Activity

  • A needle
  • A thread
  • 8-10 beads
  • a cloth piece with marked holes 

How to Introduce Sewing Beads Activity to the Child?

  1. Invite the child to the table with a sewing activity on the table.
  2. Hold the threaded needle in your dominant hand and the cloth in the other hand.
  3. Start with one corner and slowly push the needle from one hole.
  4. As shown in the video, pick up a bead and push it inside the needle.
  5. Once you sew the first bead, push the needle backward halfway into the cloth and bring it up again to sew another bead.
  6. Now repeat steps 4-5 to sew all the beads on the cloth.
  7. Invite the child to try.

Note: To avoid hurting the child, use a child-friendly needle to start with.

Watch the video to learn how to create beautiful patterns on the cloth piece when stitched with beads.

Invite the child to sew cloth with a needle and let them use their imagination to create beautiful designs. They can sew buttons, fix their toys, or make a nice and original gift for someone.

Other Sewing Activities that can be Introduced to the Child

  1. Wooden board sewing- In Montessori classrooms, children are introduced to wooden boards to learn the art of sewing. It is like a t-shirt and has two rows of double holes down the front to sew buttons onto it with thicker thread or lace or string or yarn. Hence, they can see how to organize the stitches so that the back of the shirt looks just as neat as the front.
  2. Button Sewing – The sewing paddle is another Montessori material to teach sewing to the child. It is made up of wood and has about a dozen evenly-spaced buttons. A child doesn’t need threading a needle. They can sew thread directly to work through the holes, sew on buttons or create a pattern. Depending on their skill level, children learn how to sew on buttons using simple, double, or cross-stitch stitching.
  3. Sewing onto cardboard- Cardboards are a great alternative when on a budget as they are easily available in every home. Cut the cardboard into the desired shape and make medium-sized holes to help the child guide how to stitch along and make patterns.

Sewing with needle activity in a Montessori classroom or at home helps children learn life skills that occupy their minds and boost creativity.

Related Resources

For more practical life lessons, click here: 

Video created by: Strykun Olena

Tags

  • Montessori at home
  • Practical Life
  • primary level