Wooden Knitting Needles

In Waldorf education, all children -- both boys and girls -- are taught to knit with two needles beginning in first grade. Research in recent years has identified the strong connection between the hand and the brain.

Developing fine motor skills through knitting and handwork helps develop a child's neural pathways and enhances learning and brain development.

A fascinating read on the subject is The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture written by neurologist Frank Wilson, M.D.