Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Turning Kids on to Workshop Projects
Competition for your kid's attention has never been tougher. Battling the likes of Nintendo and Power Rangers, a myriad of athletic schedules, not to mention MTV, is a tough row for ordinary folks like us.

But sometimes it's the uncontrived and settling atmosphere of working on a project with mom or dad that captures a kid's interest. Often the project itself and the process you go through together is what remains memorable for years to come.

Girls and boys in the 6-10 year old age range are at a wonderful time of life when their imagination and enthusiasm run high. It's the ideal age group for getting involved in a home or workshop project. For parents, it's the spirit, not the age group, that's important.

This joint venture should be fun, a shared experience doing something meaningful together. A kid probably has little interest in building a shelter for the garbage cans, but a bird feeder or treehouse, now that's something he can get excited about.

Kids like to see the fruits of their labor so make it short and sweet. For your first project be realistic and choose something that you're comfortable doing and that you can accomplish in a short period of time. If you're not experienced in woodworking or crafts, buy a kit and assemble it. You do the homework and read the directions carefully beforehand so you know what to expect.

Don't saddle a budding carpenter with the drudgery of a time-consuming task like sanding a large surface. Go through the process of sanding, explain why and how, but avoid getting bogged down with real work so your team mate doesn't lose interest. A fun project can change into a chore for a kid with a short attention span. Keep the project moving, explain as you work, how and why the sides go together. But don't give the impression there'll be a 'quick quiz' about construction techniques the next day. Remember you're working with a kid, not an adult. Don't bore him with details about the history of bird feeders, he'd rather be banging it together than listening to a lecture.

Most kid's aren't perfectionist so you have to lower your standards and expectations. Bite your tongue at bent nails and not-so-perfect joinery. Completing the project is much more important than perfection. This is tough for many of us but it's especially important for kids who don't have a lot of self-confidence and self-esteem.

If you're a do-it-yourselfer working on a household project it's not as easy to involve kids because there's often the pressure to get the job done. But if you've got the time and can spend it supervising while you work, you can enjoy his company. For example, a room addition worksite with a floor covered with 2x4 cutoffs is a playground for a 6 year old who likes to collect wood scraps. With brief instructions on using a hammer and nails these random-shaped pieces become spaceships, ray guns and dinosaurs of unknown origins.

If the project is painting walls (and you've done a thorough job of covering floors and furnishings) a kid can participate. The prime coat that goes on most walls is covered up by a finish topcoat so your little Rembrandt can practice painting with the primer. Setup a small wall area for him to work using a 3-in. roller or foam applicator. These are ideal for small hands because they're lightweight and easy to handle. Your topcoat of paint will coverup his work.

Parent-kid projects can be an enriching experience for both of you because it involves quality time together. It lays the groundwork for more creative teamwork in the future when you can perfect those skills and techniques you worked on together.

Some safety tips for kids working with tools:

- Insist they wear safety goggles to protect their eyes when nailing or cutting wood, sheets of insulation, etc. These goggles are sold at hardware stores and home centers for under $2 and kids seem to love to wear them.

- It's better for a kid to use a small-size real tool like a ladies hammer instead of a toy unless you know the toy version is heavily constructed of quality materials.

- Put ear muffs or ear protectors on kids where there's loud power tools in operation.

- A bicycle or football helmet is the perfect hard hat for a kid around construction work.

- If you're sanding drywall or doing fine sanding everyone should wear a dust mask.

- Don't ever allow kids to play or work with tools unsupervised.

- Always unplug a power tool when you are not using it.

- Keep all tools and (especially those with sharp blades and edges) stored safely and out of reach.

- The shrill noise of most power tools can terrify an unsuspecting child, so before you turn the switch prepare your helper.


written by Gene and Katie Hamilton

Copyright HouseNet, Inc.

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