I’ve got a 5 year old son, and a 7 year old daughter who are both very interested in making projects of their own in my workshop.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on plans, projects, etc that I can prepare ahead of time and then have them work on to stay busy, while I am working myself? The really just love being with me in the shop, and aside from cleaning up the wood chips, I want them to learn something, and have a project to take away? My daughter also wants a birthday party with 4 of her friends to work on a project themselves, so probably 1.5 hours worth of their time is all I can expect.
I’m thinking glue, sanding, paint, screws, etc at this stage, I figure I’ll keep them away from the sharp tools for a while.
Any suggestions from parents would be appreciated.
did a birdhous with my son. Don’t remember where I got the plans from on the internet, but it took one 8’ pine 1×8 I think. Hand tools and nails. We also did the prefab bat house from woodcraft, but it was a little pricey if I remember correctly. Alot of the time I just give him a couple of cut offs and a hammer and some nails.
-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"
My daughter is now 10, and has spent many hours in the shop with me over the years. Just tonight she wanted something to do while I was working, so I gave her a board, and some nails, told her to draw a shape (she choose a heart) then I had her hammer in the nails evenly spaced (as even as she could). I then strung orange thread across the nails creating a nice pattern of color within the heart shape. She loved it and gave it to Mom! I remembered doing this type of project in middle school woodshop.
-- "The German is like a willow. No matter which way you bend him, he will always take root again." - Alexander Solzhenitsyn -
I’ve made bird houses and keepsake boxes with my girls. I did all the cutting. I pre-drilled holes and they did the assembly… with some assistance from Dad! it was fun to do.
They can make a cat by taking a block, nailing on a couple of smaller narrower blocks on both sides for the tracks. Use a small board nailed off center on the front for a blade. swivel it one way to be down to grade and up to travel. build all kinds of machines to tow with it and put a bent nail in the back for a hitch.
They coould build a whole train using blocks along the line of thinking. Good luck ;-))
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
Do a google search for Cub Scout Craftsman badge…it will link you to all sorts of easy projects, including trebuchets, dice towers, birdhouses, and trivets.
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