| Project by BTKS | posted 268 days ago | 749 views | 0 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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This is my four year old daughter’s first wood working project. We were in the shop, making a mock-up of some bird house kits my aunt wanted made for a family reunion. She described a bird house she wanted to build in pretty clear detail. I told her it was time for dinner and draw me a picture after dinner and we would think about it. She took me to task. The picture is hanging under the finished house. She had the idea for the feeder (the little shelf and the perch on the side). Those were in the original drawing so they had to be on the house.
We went past her bedtime but hey it was saturday night. She would not admit to getting sleepy. She directed all the details. How much the roof overhangs to what board the feeder was made from to where the perch was hooked on. She drove her first nails and put in her first screws. We had quite a time. I was informed at one point that I was not letting her do very much. She’s only four, can’t imagine how much rope she’s gonna want at sixteen.
This had to be the most fun I’ve had in the shop in a long time. Hope we can keep passing on the craft. God bless and goodnight.
BTKS.
10 comments so far
DaleM
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409 posts in 278 days
posted 268 days ago
That’s awesome. Nothing like sharing something with your kids. I have four kids myself and my oldest two, age 9 and 8 now, wanted help making something for mothers day a couple of years ago. I helped them draw out the word “Mom” on a piece of 1/4 plywood and then let them take turns on the scrollsaw (at the slowest speed which is very slow) until it was cutout. At the slow speed they could make a lot of mistakes and have plenty of time to recover with my guidance and it still came out okay(plus little chance of injury beyond a slight “owee”). I would like to think that will be something they will remember long after I’m gone just as I think your daughter will remember her first birdhouse. From the joy it brought you, I’m sure this is just the first of many projects together and I hope you keep sharing them.
-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY
Bureaucrat
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7236 posts in 546 days
posted 268 days ago
A great story. Cherish these times, they make being a parent worthwhile. I’m looking forward to building a tool box with my 4 & 6 year old grand daughters this summer. Been buying age appropriate tools that they can use for a long time.
Make sure that the birdhouse gets hung in a sheltered spot so it lasts a good, long time.
-- Gary, South Central Wisconsin. So much to learn, so little time!
WoodSpanker
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298 posts in 286 days
posted 268 days ago
That is precious! My son and I when he was 4 built him a workbench! It is good to see the future of a shared passion being secured! Warms my heart! Great job to you both! :)
-- Adventure? Heh! Excitement? Heh! A Woodworker craves not these things!
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1055 days
posted 268 days ago
wonderful birdhouse and experience!
I’m chuckling at the “Age 16” comment lol
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
David_Bethune
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243 posts in 287 days
posted 268 days ago
Very bright little girl. Life to me is all about family. I can just imagine how good it made you feel to work with her on this and see her eyes and smile when it was completed.
Great job… A very special bird will be moving into that one.
Alan
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215 posts in 299 days
posted 268 days ago
Thats great, I realy enjoy it when my girls come to the shop to help dad. I alway try to make it is fun as possible, by giving them their own tools and jobs to help with.
-- Alan, Prince George
HallTree
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2041 posts in 662 days
posted 268 days ago
That’s a great story. I love it. You are a great dad. You will have to set her down and see what she can do with SketchUp.
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota
Mark Shymanski
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1555 posts in 607 days
posted 268 days ago
Building not only a bird house but a really good legacy. My little girl and I cut out a bird house before winter set in, once it warms up here we’ll finish it off.
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
Napaman
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3486 posts in 972 days
posted 267 days ago
wow…way better then mine!!!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
clieb91
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681 posts in 829 days
posted 267 days ago
What a great project. I can not wait to have my daughter join me in the shop for a project. She came home the other day with a piece of wood she found for me. Shame I have to give the school back its doorstop :)...
I hope you guys have many more projects to post.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."