New pamphlet: Sewing with young children

Sewing with young children is written by three experienced nursery school headteachers and explores how educators and carers can support young children to become autonomous learners through sewing.

It's a new addition to the popular Froebel Trust pamphlet series which explores themes and activities closely associated with Froebelian practice today.

Froebel, inventor of kindergarten, believed that children learn through first-hand experiences and self-activity. He stressed the importance of children being given freedom to learn by doing things by themselves, with guidance from adults.

"Experimenting with stitches is a bit like scribbling and early mark making... Sewing requires integration of all areas of children’s development to plan and carry out their ideas using small co-ordinated movements..." write the authors, Sharon Imray, Tracy Thomson and Jane Whinnett.

Download your free copy of the pamphlet and find out all about:

• starting sewing
• how sewing supports young children's development
• a Froebelian approach to sewing
• practical tips for setting up a sewing area in your school or early years setting
• observing, supporting and extending children's interests
• the importance of creative expression

... and more!

About the authors

Sharon Imray is Owner of Poppies Pre School, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She is a graduate of the Froebel in Childhood Practice course from the University of Edinburgh. She has been a sewer for most of her life and shares her love of sewing and creativity with the children and practitioners at Poppies Pre School. She has a published chapter in the award-winning book Putting Storytelling at the Heart of Early Childhood Practice, Routledge (2020).

Tracy Thomson was Head of Tynecastle Nursery School and is currently Head of Hailesland Early Years Centre in Edinburgh. She is an Art graduate and has completed the Froebel in Childhood Practice course from the University of Edinburgh. Tracy has taught throughout the early years in primary school before specialising in nursery. She has joined the Froebel Trust funded Froebelian Futures project in Edinburgh and has been awarded an innovative Froebel Trust grant with a focus on sewing.

Jane Whinnett is a tutor on the Froebel in Childhood Practice course at the University of Edinburgh. She is an endorsed Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor and has previously served as at the Froebel Trust. Jane was Head Teacher of two local authority nursery schools in Edinburgh. She is author of the Froebel Trust pamphlet Froebel’s Gifts and Block Play Today. She has published chapters in Early Childhood Practice: Froebel Today, Sage (2012) and co-edited the award-winning book Putting Storytelling at the Heart of Early Childhood Practice, Routledge (2020).