my son was mesmorized by the mechanics of my sewing machine from the time that he was three. he had to know what made it work, so 'helped' me take it apart for cleaning one day. after that i couldn't hold him down. he had to do it! when he was four, he sat on my lap and began stitching. now forty and married, he is still the mender in his household on his wife's inherited singer. she herself has almost no interest. he can mend and patch and close up opened seams, and is happy that he is self-reliant in one more way.