Feeling the Desire!

I always have crochet hooks in my studio. They sit on a shelf, barely visible. How wonderful it is when, in time, some students notice them and ask what they are, what I do with them. I show them that I crochet various things: snakes, scarves, flowers, and tablecloths. As I show them, I quietly remember that this is my connection to a joyful part of childhood — to the self-directed learning of what sparks curiosity, interest, and the energy to do it. When these questions arise, I notice that we need to pause the academic work for a moment and strengthen other skills. A different kind of need emerges.

For some — the need to develop fine motor skills; for some — the need to fulfill sensory needs; for some — to experience capability; for some — to feel how the body moves through space; for some — to strengthen visual or working memory; for some — something entirely new...

We do as much as the child feels drawn to, and we sense the inner flow. If the desire to crochet is strong, I sometimes let them take the yarn home to explore. For me, the learning process is creation. A living desire is a compass, pointing to what needs strengthening and nurturing next. I want to clarify that this has nothing to do with a whim or a preconceived idea of how things should be.

We can learn at the table, under the table, on the carpet, and during Lithuanian summer camp — outdoors too. Allowing the body to move opens up far more possibilities for absorbing, understanding, and remembering information. When we see the need, we play and train balance, core strength, and precision of movement.

I share what experience has revealed to me, refined through psychological supervision.