Fostering a “Makers” Mentality

Daniel Beard had a pension for the outdoors, no doubt about that.  However, if you look closely at his book it’s really about making stuff.  Beard lived in a time when people made much of what they used/owned.  It is quiet here on Labor Day.  Seth is off with his dad at Burning Man surrounded by other folks who cherish the art of “making” and refuse to surrender to the “just go and buy it” mentality of the world in which we live.  That said I wanted to reflect on an object that Seth made for me all of his own accord.

Earlier in the summer Seth dawned his Jolly Roger one morning and announced that he wanted to sew a pillow for me, “Mommy you need a fire pillow for our fire station”.  I did some quick scrambling and made arrangements for us to spend the day at Bertie’s studio.  Seth had no problem with each step in the process.  He confidently measured, cut, sewed and ironed a fairly nice pillow.  In his mind the pillow had to be painted for the proper “fire” effect, so we borrowed fabric paint and he got right down to business.  After the paint dried he stuffed the pillow and hand stitched the edge.  Recently one of his friends was admiring the pillow.  I overheard Seth matter-a-factly pointing out that this endeavor was, “my first time using a needle and thread” ~ um precious.

The fire pillow is nothing short of lovely, and I use it all the time when I wake from sleep, dawn my fire suit and slide down the pole!  However, the part that interests me is that Seth made it himself.  As a matter of course many people in his life encourage him to make things himself instead of buy them.  A pleasant by-product of this is that we don’t hear much of “the givemes” at out house.  Eliminating the shopping option leaves him one choice, make it or go without.  There are obvious times to encourage “making”, such as when he asks to watch a video.  However, I find myself suggesting “making” ideas based on play.  I listen to his play banter and try to think of connected objects that he could fashion himself.  Regardless of wither I suggest a project, or he suggests a project, it is the act of making something that matters.

Although Daniel Beard gives explicit directions in his projects, I think the sentiment of his message was ingenuity.  He encouraged Victorian children to learn the skills of the hand, and application of the mind that fostered a “makers” mentality.  Today I am encouraging my child to embrace “making” for all the right reasons: economy, independence, self sufficiency and the like.  But most importantly, because I want him to express himself with wild abandon.  Fire or no fire, you can’t say for a second that this pillow does not evoke deep sentiment.

Project:  Suggest that your youngster make a “fire pillow”.  Leave the project open for interpretation and see what they come up with!