Be Mindful: Knitting making a difference in kids’ lives
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and ABC-7 continues to highlight programs in the community that are making a difference, no matter how subtle.
One such group is group of kids armed with yarn and knitting needles, who are learning a new skill. They are also learning how to quiet their minds.
Ladybug Roberts volunteers at St. Mark's Elementary and Middle School, teaching after-school knitting classes. The idea was to teach young children a new skill, but there was an added bonus: these young knitters learned to concentrate, slow down, and be still.
"It's a busy life we have. We're all doing too much. This makes us sit down and be quiet," Roberts says.
Some of the children say knitting helps them focus more in school, and deal with everyday stress.
The blankets, booties and beanies the students have carefully knit will be donated to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Providence Hospital. Giving of your time and attention to others is one of the most natural ways to treat depression.
"I wanted them to know from the heart what it's like to give back. They have so much. We all have so much. It's so simple," Mrs. Roberts says.
