If you have school age children, then there is a strong likelihood that you have one or two education posters around the house. Times tables, maps, french verbs, numbers and letters, human body etc. The sort that can be found in most classrooms.
At one time or another, we too have had our share. Children pour over them for a while, but it tailors off. The posters start falling down. Edges get bent. Irritation rises, as yet again they need to be fixed to the wall. Until one day the poster disappears quietly and no one notices. 
I know the key is to keep it fresh. If I was to put some of the old ones up again, they would be looked at, but they would still be posters. Aspiring to be free from vertical surfaces. Maybe a new approach is needed.
Last week, a possible solution swung out of my fabric stash. Literally, as the roll of fabric fell on my foot. Ouch! The world map fabric had found me again.
I made place mats, last year, which are still in regular use. Although I’m not sure anyone now pays much attention to them. I also made a cushion which I gave as a present. The left over fabric was put aside to be sewn up as a cushion for us.
The thought struck me, as I rubbed my ankle, that info on a cushion would be a fresh way to present facts. Rotating a number of cushion covers, instead of those darn posters which are determined to act as floor mats. Might be interesting. I could have the periodic table, the times tables and so on. Games could be played to find the answer.
So, I made a cushion.
I know my children. As they sit down, they won’t be able to resist hugging the cushion and exploring. Interacting with it as the facts slowly filter through. Hunting for countries and places as I challenge them. (A country beginning with “T”? Where is Papua New Guinea? Which country rhymes with Pongo?”)
When the novelty wears off, I could swap the cushion cover for another fact covered piece of fabric. Which also, quite nicely, gives me a good excuse to sew. “It’s for their education.”
So if you were going to make a cushion, what facts would you put on it? Or would you go for messages such as “Have you put your shoes away yet?”
Hmm. The options are endless.
Nice idea ! lovely cushion 😀
We had a couple of those times tables posters – not sure they made it as far as the walls! Although they made table mats at school and these did actually get some use. Lovely fabric though and a great cushion cover.
Oh man… I totally totally love that cushion… We have maps everywhere… but a map cushion is the stuff dreams are made of. As a child I had natural factual curtains and bedding… they looked like a vintage nature notebooks, very much like the country diary notebooks… and I remember tracing my fingers around the butterflies and seashells as I drifted off to sleep. I was big into Dr. Dolittle, and usborne nature spotter books. No wonder I grew up loving the English country side from the far side of the world!!!
That’s a brilliant idea – love that cushion and what a fun way of helping encourage learning.
Love love love, great idea xx