Finger Knitting for Charity

A Blanket Made Warmth

In February 2013 Emily, Ruth and Grandma learned to finger knit.  This was a craft that we first saw on Pinterest and when we went looking for instruction we came across this You Tube video.

Emily caught on quickly and over the rest of that weekend whenever she had a quiet moment she would pick up her finger knitting.  

We were pleasantly surprised in April when she brought her finger knitting to our home.  She was just finishing up the yarn from February and was looking for another colour to continue with.  

We asked Emily what she was making.  She was/is planning on making a blanket for a stranger.  

Solemnly she told us how there are families in our community who do not have enough money to keep their children warm in the winter.

Emily went to say that she heard on the radio that they were asking for used winter coats of all sizes  to give to children to stay warm.  Emily was sure her old winter coats would not be good enough to give away because “I play hard and my coats are only good enough for Ruth when I out grow them”. 

Since she did not have the money to buy a coat for another child she thought she would make a blanket to help keep him or her warm this winter and she wants her blanket to be colourful so that it will be both cheerful and warm.

 

Today in Ontario there is a great deal of discussion around building assets in our children.    

The Search Institute is a leader in this research

Assets are skills, experiences, relationships and values that we teach our children both as parents/Grandparents and as communities.  

Current research has identified 40 developmental “enable young people to develop into successful and contributing adults” Search Institute website

Emily’s identification of a community need and her confidence that she will participate in meeting that needs demonstrates that she:

• Feels valued and appreciated by adults in her community 
•  Has participated successfully at an age appropriate level in decision making and
  
•  Feels safe at home, at school and in her community

the sum of these experiences and skills is, she saw an opportunity to help others in her community and felt/feels empowered do so.

I would encouraged all of you to look at the information provided by the Search Institute or Google 40 Assets to see what you can do to build developmental assets in both your children and just as importantly in community children.

Stepping Up: Youth-Friendly Communities

Grandma Snyder

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