(Cloth) napkins are a fabulous tool for Montessori practical life-type skill-building.  There are a number of ways they can be useful.  For instance:

• When my children were very little, folding napkins (to put away in the drawer) was their first introduction to folding (along with washcloths).  They’re small and they’re square, so they’re easy for little hands to manage.  And if they’re a little crooked, it’s not a big deal. 🙂
• As they get older, they can begin to learn some “fancy” napkin folds.
• As they get older still, they can learn very complicated decorative napkin folds.  (Come back tomorrow to see my review of a great napkin-folding book.)
• For the same reasons they’re good for teaching beginning “fold-ers,” napkins are excellent first textiles for ironing.  They’re flat and not too large, so they’re simple to iron and manageable.  And if they end up with goofy wrinkles ironed in, nobody has to wear those ironed-in wrinkles. 🙂
• The same square edges and basic nature makes them a great learning tool for sewing.  Beginning sew-ers can make the napkins themselves.  First by hand, and then as learning the machine.
• You can take this to another level by having more experienced crafters experiment with different techniques, like mitered corners, rolled hems, etc.
• And then you can move on to decorative handwork, by having students embroider on them, or tat or crochet edgings.

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