No matter what age your kids are when you first take them into the shop, you need to teach them about safety. I know, it sounds boring, and it will to them as well if you don’t make it fun for them.
Before taking them into the shop, buy them their own safety glasses and hearing protection. Having their own safety equipment will make things more real to them, and they will have a sense of ownership. It will also make being in the shop more fun. You will probably be surprised when every time they go into the shop they immediately put on their safety equipment. Also, make sure you are wearing yours all the time as well. Kids will learn habits, either bad or good, from you. Don’t be a “do as I say, not as I do” dad.
Make sure you buy safety glasses that are kid sized. Adult sized glasses will continually fall off their faces. You can find kid sized safety equipment on Amazon.com.
You may also want to buy them some of their own tools. No, not power tools. Amazon also sells kid sized hammers, screw drivers, tape measures, and ratchet sets. Kids will love having ownership of their own tools. It will make them feel more like grown up.
Of course you will have to teach them what the proper use is for each tool, and to only use these tools for their intended purpose. My kids were never allowed to use these tools except when I was with them. They may want to take the tape measure and measure every thing in the house, and that’s ok, as long as they put the tape back where it belongs.
I think my oldest son, Ben, was about 4 years old when he was first allowed to spend some time with me in the shop. At that age, there wasn’t a whole lot I felt he could safely do. But I did let him pound some nails.
I had some leftover cutoffs from some 2×4 construction lumber and some leftover roofing nails. Roofing nails work well for kids because they have big heads and aren’t too difficult to hang onto. I would hold onto the nails for him, (with a pair of needle nose pliers) and he would pound the nails into the wood. I learned that the nails would go in a lot easier if I had him pound the nails into the end grain of the wood.
Now, don’t feel you have to get your 4 year old out into the shop or he’ll be left behind. I was leading a bunch of 6 and 7 year old Cub Scouts last year and started them out with this same exercise. They all began at the same skill level as Ben did, but they progressed to the next level more quickly.
You can also pre drill some holes into a piece of wood and have your kids fill them with either nails or screws. This will help them develop both dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Now, it won’t be long and they will get bored with just putting nails and screws into scrap pieces of wood. They are going to start wanting to build some sort of project. There are many easy little projects you and your kids can build together.
The first one I would recommend would be a toolbox. Not only does it help your kids develop woodworking skills, it will also give them someplace to put their tools.
You can also build a bird house, CD/DVD holder, a small simple airplane, a small “treasure” box, a step stool, and a pine wood derby car. All of these things are available in pre cut and drilled kits.
The most important thing to remember is that your kids are spending time with YOU. This is real quality time with your kids. By taking the time and learning something that you like to do, they are taking and interest and learning about YOU. You need to reciprocate and go play match box cars or star wars or whatever with them when you are done. Let them have fun and have fun with them.
Depending on the age of your kids, it may take a while to finish a project. Their attention spans may not be long enough yet to finish these projects in the time you think it should. Don’t push them past what their attention span can handle. You don’t want them to get bored with woodworking. If they just aren’t into it, then back off and try it again another day.
Also, don’t get frustrated, for any reason, with them while working on a project. Always stay positive and encouraging. Their attitude will reflect yours. If you stay positive, then they will too.
Don’t expect too much from them as far as the quality of the project goes. Don’t worry if things are not square, or straight, or the glue is dripping, or a nail is bent. I wouldn’t even point these things out to them right now. Just let them finish this project the way they are, and then at the beginning of the next project when you are explaining what needs to be done to put it together show them how to avoid the problems they had on the last project.
You are going to be very tempted to grab the project out of their hands and do it for them at least once during every project. Let them do it. They will learn nothing if you do it all for them. And, more importantly, they will not want to work with you on projects any more.
If you feel that they are just not ready to do a certain part of the project, then let them know ahead of time that you will do that specific task for them. That way they don’t feel that they let you down when they cannot do it.
Again, remember, that this is real quality time with your kids. Lets make it a good quality.
