Thread: What to do with kids in the workshop?

Paddlepop sticks, glue, waterproof plastic sheet. Get them (the 4yo anyway) to make coasters.
Bits of pine offcuts, tack hammer, nails. Watch out for blue thumb nails though.

A pile of sawdust, a photo of the piece of wood it came from, some glue and tell them to put it all back together

To extend on Alex's idea...chuck some coloured string in the mix so they can make patterns looping it around the nails. Maybe even mark out a few boards for them with where the nails should go (in a circle or star) so it's less random and maybe more like following a plan (a structured/educational task).

This is too full on but it's what I had in mind.

Originally Posted by RedShirtGuy

A pile of sawdust, a photo of the piece of wood it came from, some glue and tell them to put it all back together
.

I think the Steiner Schools let them go at a bit of wood with a rasp. The 4 year old at least could maybe do some damage on a bit of pine clamped down. And my son has had great fun gluing off cuts together into planes and space ships. Or even just arranging the off cuts into landscapes for the lego people to explore.

I know you want to get some of YOUR stuff done, but I have this great book called "Woodworking with your Kids." by Richard Star. (Its from the early 80s ) It has some wonderful projects to make with hand tools. And it is amazing what kids can do. I might even be able to manage a couple of them.

Although the kids are older check out ABC's Can We Help show Friday nights In the Shed - Episode 12 - Can We Help - ABC TV

I find if you boil them long enough and add a little salt they make quite good animal glue and these days because of there diet being so high in preservitives you will find the glue will hold for many more years than the animal glues of the past.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

I find if you boil them long enough and add a little salt they make quite good animal glue and these days because of there diet being so high in preservitives you will find the glue will hold for many more years than the animal glues of the past.

No, even when boiled kids won't stay put.

Here is a shot of the last batch but it still had some lumps in it.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Here is a shot of the last batch but it still had some lumps in it.

when my daughter was 3, she love to do hand paintings. these paintings were glued to a peice of ply (with help), then i ran them through the band saw - the same patten on at least 5 paintings, she then had to put them back together and they were great when playmates came over. i ended up with a pile of paintings and not enough ply.

I still have 3 of the paintings, two are on the wall in the lounge in frames. maygen is 13 this year

Now thats a great idea.

My 21 month old grandson has great fun with a light mallet, a bunch of nails & a sturdy corrugated cardboard box. Push the nails into the cardboard & let him hammer them home. When he's finished, pull them all back up & let him do it again, just like dad.

Originally Posted by Glider

My 21 month old grandson has great fun with a light mallet, a bunch of nails & a sturdy corrugated cardboard box. Push the nails into the cardboard & let him hammer them home. When he's finished, pull them all back up & let him do it again, just like dad.

That's a good idea too. Screws and screw driver into cardboard might work too.

My 2 1/2 year old loves to pull all of the wood scraps from under the work bench (all the bits you keep for clamping) and put them in a pile. When he is finished doing this, he is usually amused by playing with the cordless drill and pretending to drill everything in the garage. Then he gets the bike pump. Then he gets a spanner and goes to try and fix lots of things. Then he pulls the glue off the shelf and wants to glue things.

Then 5 minutes is up and he says "Daddy finished in the garage, daddy come inside with me" (maybe slightly longer - 1/2 hour max). Then I say "Go and tell mummy what you have been doing" and he potters off to find her.

He is always interested in what I am doing, but unfortunately for not long enough for me to be able to do anything. Not that you can use screaming power tools with a 2 year old around anyway. He is defintely becoming easier to occupy, but still has the attention level and boredom threshold of a small child. I am also concerned he will open something he is not supposed to, or pull something down on top of himself.

My limited time in the garage needs to be planned, generally when 2 1/2 year old is out shopping and 6 month old is sleeping!!