How knitted kindness is warming tamariki across Aotearoa
Children across the mōtu are being kept warm this winter with donations of knitting to local primary schools. Education Gazette talks with two primary schools about the sense of belonging the knitting has given their tamariki and the sense of satisfaction for the knitters.
A chat at the fence between neighbours kickstarted a special project which has been warming feet for the past 5 years.
Sonia Rova, teacher of years 0-2 at Stratford Primary School, spoke with her neighbour Karen Pearse about how some of their young tamariki were experiencing cold feet.
“We live underneath the maunga and experience some very cold and wet winter days,” she explains.
Karen has been knitting for 50 years and says it seemed only natural to make enough knitted slippers for Sonia’s class, “while I can, I will, is sort of my motto” she says.
Karen enjoys the chance to give back and is now affectionally known around the school as ‘The Slipper Lady’.
“This has resulted in me making more slippers for other family members of students in Sonia’s class! How awesome is that.”
A village of kindness
The slippers are extra-thick and are donated in a range of colours. They are all lined up in the class by Sonia and the tamariki get to choose a pair.
“We have a big discussion prior about not always getting our first choice and that we are very grateful, at our school we talk a lot about being respectful and resilient, so this is a great way to practise that.”
Sonia adds that many of the tamariki hadn’t owned slippers before or had seen or knew what knitting was.
“We watched a little tutorial about that and also learned about shearing sheds and how they shear the sheep. Some very kid-led learning – which in turn created some interesting play”.
Sonia and her class make Karen thank you cards and one included the quote from a student, ‘not only do the slippers warm our feet but her kindness warms our hearts’.
Karen adds, “feedback from children is heartwarming and tear jerking sometimes, I love the pictures and letters”.
“While my arthritic hands allow me to knit, and my husband accepts the wool purchases, I will continue, as this gives me pleasure and I am very grateful.
“There are so many creative people out there that do far more than I do, but we believe it takes a village to raise a child”.
Knitting group spreading joy to local schools
Further down the country in Wellington, the Naenae Knitting Natters is a group who gathers up donated yarn, knitting needles and patterns from the community, and turns them into new items to donate back to the community where there is a need.
The Naenae Knitting Natters in action
Coordinator of the Naenae Knitting Natters, Chris Dopson, describes the group as “a form of recycling, a creative endeavour, a social occasion, a sharing of skills and way of offering help to those who need it”.
The group was set up in 2011 and is part of the community programmes offered by the Team Naenae Trust. They currently have 50 members and donate to a range of charities and hospitals as well as eight local Naenae primary schools. Last year, the group knitted and donated a total of 6,247 items and so far this year 2,816 items have already been made.
At the beginning of each winter, they deliver a set of three items for each child (a beanie, scarf and pair of fingerless gloves) to the selected primary schools which rotate each year.
A knitting volunteer with some of the donated knitted items
Sarah McAuliffe, teacher at Rātā Street School, says tamariki are invited to choose the items they would like.
“This is a delightful moment and adds to the sense of pride and ownership. The children absolutely love wearing them and they are worn with big smiles on chilly mornings” she says.
Sarah says the knitting donations are incredibly important for their kura and strengthen the sense of belonging for the tamariki.
“The donations show our tamariki what community care looks like and remind them that they are supported by people beyond the school gates.”
Chris adds that there are plenty of benefits for the knitters too, “the members get social interaction, friendship, a creative outlet, an increase in skills, a sense of serving the community, and satisfaction around using resources that would otherwise go to waste”.
“It’s rewarding and exciting knowing that items are well received and are useful to the recipient” she adds.
Sarah says, “we are deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of the knitters. Their contributions make a real difference for our children, and the joy these items bring is felt across our classrooms and playgrounds”.
Is your school benefitting from community connection? We would love to hear more – contact us at [email protected]
