I was initially afraid to order a plastic loom for my 11 year old who can be tough on plastic crafts, but I was pleasantly surprised at the loom's sturdiness. Also, the loop fabric was of a good quality and when my daughter completed her first potholder, it actually reminded me of the thickness of the ones I made years ago. Great gift that needs very litte parental assistance. You will only need to help your child figure out how to finish off the ends, but it's very easy after the first few loops.