Have you ever paused to think about the role of your hands in daily life?

From typing on a keyboard to holding a cup of coffee, our hands do it all.

The fine motor skills we use to grasp, touch, and create are vital to almost every task we perform!

However, these crucial abilities have been under scrutiny recently. With the rise of digital devices and decreasing hands-on activities, some experts worry that our manual dexterity may be declining.

What is Manual Dexterity?

Manual dexterity is our ability to make coordinated movements with our hands and fingers. These skills allow us to perform fine motor tasks, such as threading a needle or assembling a puzzle. While children naturally develop these skills through play, they require constant use and practice throughout life to stay sharp.

Digital Age and Declining Dexterity

Recent studies, like those from Professor Roger Kneebone at Imperial College London, show that manual dexterity in young adults, especially medical students, is on the decline. Kneebone notes that many students lack basic crafting skills such as sewing or model-making, which are essential for fields like surgery.

Surgeons, for example, need to manipulate tools with precision and delicacy. These skills are learned through practice, and if we stop engaging in such hands-on activities, they might be lost.

The Role of Crafts in Our Lives

The increasing reliance on technology and screen-based activities has shifted focus away from crafts and physical activities. However, crafting is not just about creating something beautiful. It also plays a significant role in maintaining manual dexterity. Practices like knitting require both our brains and hands to work together, helping us develop motor skills, coordination, and fine-tuned control.

Knitting: A Fun Way to Enhance Dexterity

Knitting is a perfect example of an activity that develops and maintains manual dexterity. As we work through patterns, our hands learn the delicate movements required to hold the needles and manipulate the yarn. But it's not only about the hands—knitting also encourages problem-solving, patience, and creativity. The repetitive motions of knitting can even boost brain activity, as our minds stay active and engaged.

The Importance of Craft Education

How do we ensure that future generations develop the dexterity they need? Craft education plays an essential role. In Finland, for example, crafting has been part of compulsory education for over a century. Students are taught both textile and technical crafts, learning to work with materials, solve problems, and appreciate the process of creating.

This hands-on education teaches students to think critically and build resilience, skills that are transferable to various aspects of life and work.

Why We Need Crafting in Our Lives

Even in an age dominated by technology, it is important to preserve traditional crafting skills. Whether it's knitting, sewing, or woodworking, using our hands to create keeps our minds sharp and our bodies active.

The act of making something with our hands is a form of creative expression that shouldn't be lost. Keeping these practices alive in schools and our daily lives is essential for maintaining our manual dexterity.

So, let's keep knitting and crafting—it's not just about making beautiful things, it's about keeping our hands—and our minds—strong.

10 Hand exercises for Knitting and Crochet!

Video by LoveCrafts