Teaching my 5 year old to knit

[AngelaD]

Is she too young ? We had one of those kits from ELC for Christmas and it was a disaster.
Any words of wisdom or recommendations ??
TIA

Oh I tried this with my dd aged 5 at the weekend. First she wanted to do the scoubidous she got for Christmas: well I couldnd't work out how to do it! The I suggested the knitting doll she got for Christmas before last but it was too fiddly. So I offered to show her how to knit, but I don't think she was really capable. She just about held the needles and directed the needle, but I had to do all the work with the wool. I decided it was too young. Would love to know if anyone has managed it with a 5 yo.

My seven year old has recently learned but is struggling. She seems to gain loads of stitches with every row. What doesn't help is that she keeps leaving her knitting in the middle of a row and when she comes back to it she can't remember which way round to hold the needles. I'm worried she'll be put off.

How about sewing? She finds this much easier (has done samplers, made dresses and mended her brothers' teddies).

Or you could start by making pom poms.

I was at a craft fair recently and a woman on a handknitted stuff stall suggested sitting the child on your lap when they are learning, so you are both facing the same way.

I taught ds2 when he was 5, or maybe even 4. He knit a teddy's scarf for his Grandma for Christmas when he was 5.5!

I sat him on my knee as Aubina suggested. He needed quite a lot of help at first controlling the wool and needles, but caught on pretty quickly.