My DGD started much the same way the other children here did...sitting on my lap and 'helping' me sew. At 4 she was using her own machine, The Hello Kitty one and now she is just turned 7 and she is using my 301 and my 128 handcrank. She prefers my handcrank and can even wind her own bobbins now. She likes to sew on the handcrank because she says it is better for the environment. I never pushed her or corrected her when she started and always let her choose when, how long and what she wanted to learn. It has been FUN for both of us.She also now is helping cleaning and reconditioning old machines. She has decided she needs to have one of her own to do.... I think she is hooked.