Knitting is the thing to do at Mary A. White

Climbing around on the jungle gym may be fun for some kids — but for more than 45 girls and boys at Mary A. White Elementary School, knitting is the thing to do.

The students are freely giving up their lunchtime recess to knit with retired women from the community. Every Friday, students in the fourth- and fifth-grade meet in the school's library with Principal Valerie Livingston, volunteer Mary Kay Alguire and about 10 other volunteers.

For 30 minutes, students meet with the women to master the art of knitting and to refine their new skills on practice squares.

An avid knitter herself, Livingston decided to share her enthusiasm and passion for knitting with her students. She approached Alguire, who has been involved at Mary A. White for years, about helping her get the club started.

Alguire said she gladly took advantage of this opportunity to get the children involved in knitting by helping instruct the club. She said the club is a "wonderful distraction" from all the hustle and bustle that surrounds everyday life.

Knitting provides students with a good alternative to TV and video games outside of school, Livingston said, as well as teaching them a skill they will be able to use all of their lives.

"When students are allowed to have a creative outlet, it helps them learn," the principal said.

Students get a chance to receive special attention through the one-on-one instruction from adult volunteers.

"Sometimes you mess up, but you can always fix it," said fourth-grader Rachael Cherry, proudly sharing her volunteer's advice.

Not only do the volunteers donate their time to help the young knitters, but the yarn and knitting needles used by the knitters are also donations. Alguire sought out her brother-in-law, Jim Alguire, to craft more than 60 hand-made knitting needles for the children.

Students of various skill levels wandered into the library during the winter months, happy to have an alternative that allowed them to stay in from the cold.

"Knitting is fun to do, instead of going outside in the cold," said Krista Young, a Mary A. White student who is new to the group.

More experienced students said they picked up knitting from family members and wanted to join the group to keep their skills fresh.

Many students said they had never touched a pair of knitting needles before joining the club.

"I was never taught how to knit and I wanted to learn," stated fourth-grader Libby Plowman, who recently joined the group.

Source: grandhaventribune.com

Tags: ,