Shannon Paulus, local mom and self-titled “maker of things” at Lavender’s Green, has been creating homespun goods for more than 10 years. She sells everything from reusable snack bags to superhero capes through local consignment shops and online. But what you can’t find on her business Facebook page is that she’s also the maker of extraordinary time for students at the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School in Eau Claire. Shannon spends about three to four hours a week teaching children the basics of knitting, a skill that goes much deeper than being able to churn out a few mittens.

Through recent years, several studies have been conducted surrounding the intrinsic benefits of handcrafts in children, and the results are largely in favor of these types of activities. With knitting, a child engages both sides of his or her brain by using math principles, creative functions, and utilizing keen hand-eye coordination. Shannon concurs and sees it taking a step even further. “I hope they are learning a bit of resilience,” she says, “and a lesson or two about tenacity.”

“Knitting is a peaceful thing and it calms me down when I’m uncomfortable,” Montessori second grader Wyatt G. said as he showed off his favorite part of knitting – casting off. Wyatt, like several other students in his class, began learning to knit last year when the program first started at the school, due to the creation of a “makerspace” – a separate space from the classroom where kids learn hands-on skills such as engineering, computer coding, and problem solving. Shannon asked to be a part of the space, but Montessori teachers Jen Peck and Jeremy Harrison wanted her to be out and a part of the “culture of the classroom.”

Shannon says the most notable benefit of the children learning to knit is seeing them flourish under the one-on-one attention of an adult. “I have heard about everything from worries and anger, to the happiest of news, and I feel so lucky the children have trusted me to hear their stories, she says. Harrison harmonizes, referring to the students’ time with her as therapy, calling Shannon a counselor and a second mom to many of the children.

As Shannon works with the students, her movements are gentle, but guiding. Her voice, as third grader Zayne A. states, is “very nice, and kind of not too loud.” Children gravitate towards her, inching in closer as she molds and shapes them. She supports them and listens as they reveal their latest adventures, mishaps, and thoughts. Some children exude confidence and declare mastery of the art after completing a stitch, while others sit humbly quiet, listening and focusing on the task of creating something with their little hands. One student even softly announces that he wants to make blankets for those in need. An invisible cloud of harmony and peace seems to form and as some leave the circle, others fill in, eager for their time with Ms. Shannon.

When drawn aside to answer a few questions about his time with Shannon, Zayne’s legs bounced nervously and he struggled to find the words he wanted to describe her. But when he pulled out his knitting project to show off a few stitches, his legs stopped moving and the words flowed freely. He spoke articulately about Ms. Shannon and showed step by step how to do his favorite stitch. When third grader Amelia F.’s time came, she continued her knitting, counting stitches as she spoke about taking her knitting home. “It’s hard to wait for Ms. Shannon to come back every week,” she said. “Sometimes I start my own projects because I can’t.”

Shannon holds this time with the children in high regard, and she’d love to see her work expand. She encourages anyone interested in sharing a craft like this (at any school) to go for it, and she welcomes people to reach out to her on the Lavender’s Green Facebook Page for information on getting started.

For a busy mom, making time to volunteer can be difficult, but Shannon asserts, “I make volunteering a priority and I always will. I have volunteered in many capacities at my children’s school, and I have seen firsthand what a difference an hour of my time can make for a child. Knowing that, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to not make time to volunteer.”

To learn more about Shannon Paulus and her work, visit www.facebook.com/LavendersGreen.