When I started my two granddaughters to sew on the machine, I put a stack of mini post it notes on the 1/4' line for a marker. They just had to slide the fabric along the post it notes instead of trying to use the 1/4' foot. I started both of mine with charm squares. Now they are 5 & 8 and are on their 3rd quilts - they love it. I let them tell me if they think it is ok and a few times they have wanted to "un-sew" the seams. Each time they finish the new one they compare it to the previous one. I also always use my embroidery machine for a label to mark the year and thier names on them.