Replies

1. 
   9619 | Aug 30, 2006 05:57pm | #1

   Pezzi,

   Good to meet you. Glad you have a kid who wants to help in the shop. I have three kids who are now fully grown. When they were twerps, two of them loved to come down to the shop and help. They would drive nails into boards, color boards with crayons, etc when they were very young. I tried to figure out what they wanted to do, and let them do it. They never wanted to use power tools, and the most unsafe thing they tried was hammering or using a handsaw. I was hovering over them while they did. They usually had their fill in a short while, although they went through a lot of nails. Then they left.

   My middle son continued to have an interest when in Cub scouts and Boy Scouts. He built "pine car derby" entries, and did other Scout projects. I gave him lessons, and he was very careful. I was ready to shut the power down quickly. I probably hovered too closely, but he never lost any digits. He made a bird house and other simple things.

   So you are not the first to have a young helper. Neither was I. I didn't look up any books on woodworking for kids. We just went on pure instinct. I never worked on another project while they were in the shop. I stood right with them. When they were little, they didn't pay much attention to the fact that I was there. Hammering was just too much fun.

   Enjoy your son's company in the shop. Mine are finished college and have jobs, and my shop is quieter than when they were here. I miss their daily presence but am glad they are finding their own niches in the world. Two of the three are engineers, so maybe the shop work had an influence.

   Mel

   Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

2. 
   K1500 | Aug 30, 2006 06:16pm | #2

   My child started tagging along around that age (she is almost 5 now).  I built her her own bench with a pair of vices and a little shelf.  I also gave her a tool box to store her tools.  She also has a kid sized tool belt and hammer holder, which she is very proud of. 

   My advice is to let them go at it.  She loves to use off cuts to glue stuff up.  She also likes to hammer nails, so I bought her a box of drywall nails and a couple chunks of the softest 2x4 I had.  She also likes largish (1'x1' squares) of sheet goods to act as a base to glue little off cuts to.  The other day she proudly presented me with a skateboard park that she had made, complete with a half-pipe ramp made with some curved off cuts.  It looked remarkable like the real thing and I didn't know she even knew what a skate park was!

   She has a set of 'fake tools' but I have found that she treasures the real ones.  We went to the hardware store one day to get her some real tools and she came home with a small (household sized) hammer, non-toxic white glue, 12 foot tape measure (with the requisite pocket clip), broom and dustpan, and a couple of other goodies.  For obvious reasons she has a fake chisel and utility knife, but she does have a hand saw she can use with my help.  I let her drive nails without direct supervision (but I do need to be in the room), the worst that can happen is a smashed thumb, and that isn't too bad.

   She likes it if I drive some screws into a block of wood and back them almost out so she can screw them in with her screwdriver (a bit of wax makes it easier).  I used to drill pilot holes for her drywall nails, but she can start and almost sink on herself now with no pilot.

   Basically, I think she just likes plodding around out there, messing with tools (much like I do).  We have yet to make a bird house, but I am sure that is coming.  She recently spent a few days at her grandparents and when she returned I asked her what she missed most about being away from home.  She replied she missed her cat, snuggling with Mommy, and 'carpentering' with Daddy.  I had to smile at that one.  Good luck, they are a joy to watch as they develop, and more than anything they want to be just like you at that age.

   
   

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   Edited 8/30/2006 11:20 am ET by K1500

3. 
   mark_k | Aug 30, 2006 06:18pm | #3

   I'm in the same boat. My 3yr old wants to work in the workshop with his old man too. Normally, i have a bucket of scrap wood that he just goes to town with. Says he's building a dog house for his stuffed puppy dog.
   Good excercise of the imagination.

   For a first "real" project, I'm probably going to go and cut out all the parts for a small dog house, pre drill the holes and let him assemble it and paint it.

   I don't have plans for the doghouse, just was going to make it up as I go.

1. 
   Mike&L | Aug 30, 2006 10:49pm | #4

   You guys are on the right track. 

   Both of my kids were welcome in my shop (boy and girl), and had their own tool sets by the time they were 3 (or was it 4) as well.  Our first projects together was to build each of them their own tool tote.  Last time I looked, they both still had theirs.

   Both my kids are in their 30's now, and both are confident, capable adults.  My son just finished finishing the basement in his house (and is almost as proud of his accomplishment as I am).  My daughter is a doctor who (whom?)  they tried to recruit into orthopedic surgery while in med school, 'cause power tools didn't intimidate her even a little bit. 

   Keep at it

   Mike D

4. 
   tarsalas | Aug 30, 2006 11:17pm | #5

   My son turns three next week. He loves the workshop (and his favorite TV show is New Yankee Workshop--he absolutely loves Norm).  He has his own tack hammer, and a few other little tools. Last week he "built" a birdhouse.  I cut the pieces out of pine and used hot glue to stick them together.  Then he put in a whole bunch of nails and we painted it.   He was ecstatic. 

1. 
   EHobbs | Aug 31, 2006 03:22am | #6

   Although I usually do period woodworking, it's a nice break when the kids come in the shop to do a project. My 4 year old and 6 year old are frequent visitors. We've done simple things like a bird house, a bird feeder, a doll house, a kid-sized workbench, wooden spoons, cutting board, nutcracker, etc. I've attached pictures of the projects they've done. Basically, I'd rather them know how to safely use tools, in a controlled environment than to risk wandering in and hurting themselves. Since my shop is the garage that everybody goes through to get into the house from the driveway, it impossible to keep them out entirely. I have focused on hand tools and technique and taught them the danger/respect of power tools. I look forward to seeing them grow their interests and do more things on their own.Edited 8/30/2006 8:23 pm ET by EHobbs

   Edited 8/30/2006 8:24 pm ET by EHobbs

   
5. 
   fltmedic | Sep 01, 2006 12:31am | #7

   A great question and a reminder for why I wanted to have children.  Its far too easy for me to "escape" to the shop and forget about the (mostly) joyful sounds of my two sons (4 and 6).  I have really tried to get them involved with scraps of wood and answer questions, but lately with work (etc, etc, etc) I tend to tone them out.  Many thanks for knocking the two neurons that I have back into sync. 

   Matt