My Handwork Studio ~ A Fashion and Needle Arts Community for Kids!

Independence.....It's a Good Thing!

Watching Devon make these cookies reminded me of working with my kids in the studio.  I watched as she labored for two days, first making the dough, then painstakingly decorating each cookie.  At 11:00am this morning she threw down the last of her tools and said "I'm done".  The problem was, there were no stars.  How can you have American flag cookies with no stars?  It seemed....well un-American.  So I came over to "help" the situation.  I suggested many different ways of making the stars, I even offered to put the stars on for her.  However she declared her independence and said "They are done!" 

It was only then, after minutes of coaxing, that I remembered all my studio rules when working with kids.  1) Don't over correct 2) Don't do the work for the child 3) Let them express themselves the way they want 4) Remember with time and practice they will get better 5) Praise them for the work they do, not the work you want them to do 6) NO ONE is perfect.  I walked away, proud of those starless cookies that my daughter made for us, completely independent of me!  

While Devon's cookies don't look exactly like Martha's www.marthastewart.com/recipe/flag-cookies,  I don't think that is what Martha wants of us anyway.  Her job, like mine, is to inspire, educate and then let you be free to be yourself.  Just a thought to keep in mind when working with your kids.  They'll love you for it!