The first time I sewed with my DGD, she was about 7. We hadn't planned on sewing, so I showed her how to do a running stitch by hand with needles, thread and fabric that was on hand at her house. About 6 months later, she asked to sew at my house and I spent a bit of time, setting up the machine for her to try making a simple purse. When she got impatient, I asked did she really want to sew--and she said "Yes, with my hands!" We can sometimes make things very complicated, can't we?