Admit it…Pinterest fails are hilarious….and embarrassingly easy to make. We all have an grand idea and glorious dream of what a finished project will look like, and all too often the reality does not live up to our aspirations. Now, imagine that the person creating this glorious dream project is your child or teen, who is just learning sewing and crafting skills. That finished project is a huge labor of love that is, honestly, sometimes not that attractive.
2 Reasons Kids Projects WON’T Look Like the Sample!
- They are just beginning their sewing journey
- They have a creative idea on how to make it differently
3 Things to Focus On Instead
- Did they learn a new skill?
- Did they improve when compared to a previous project?
- The amount of effort they put into the project.
Learning a new skill is truly about the process and the journey, and not about the destination. Young people need feedback about their time, effort, and their unique creativity. Criticizing, finding fault and expecting perfection WILL NOT help them learn or want to continue learning.
Some phrases that provide kind and honest feedback include
- “You really worked hard on this!”
- “Wow! You’ve really improved since you began to sew”
- “You learned how to (insert example here)–way to go!”
A growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset can make all the difference in the world and help make the sewing experience more enjoyable for both of you. Keep up the good work of introducing the joy of sewing to a new generation!
P.S. If you are stuck in the frustration of wanting to help the young person in your life learn sewing, but do not know how to proceed, please reach out. Perhaps together we can find a new strategy to get past this temporary rough patch.
