Thread: Kits for young kids?

I'm convinced Ive seen what you are looking for at Bunnings.
I would go down to you local and ask (the problem when you ring you could be talking to anyone)
I know thew have kids workshop but I don't know it thats what you are looking for.

Failing that I would visit other hardware stores and ask or even toy shops

There's your business idea that'll make you a fortune!!!

Originally Posted by nev25

I'm convinced Ive seen what you are looking for at Bunnings.

I'm 99% sure I've see the same thing, in the craft section

Home hardware used to have kids kits a few years ago.

Thanks for your help. I will keep looking - only 2 months to Christmas - right?

Originally Posted by **Mel**

Thanks for your help. I will keep looking - only 2 months to Christmas - right?

Mel could be that with girls stuff it never changes needles are needles, pins pins etc

With boys toys trying to use a kids size saw to cut wood with hum I'd hate to do it.

How about putting together a tool kit yourself he can make the box.

A very small hammer one he can keep till he's a big boy a small crosspein or ball.
A handheld egg beater drill, a coping saw and small tenon saw, small piers etc there are kits of those out there.
Bargin stores have small gouges for carving I have two sets of these work a treat on the lathe.

Or head down to your local Hobby store where they sell such Balsa tools etc its a start.

Hobby Co or similar is who I'm thinking of.

check out ebay I just did mostly plastic shyte.

Yep Balsa wood is the way to go, easy to work with, cuts with a blunt knife and all you need is glue to hold it together. could start off with a model plane or something along those lines.

I'll throw in my 2c worth.
I saw a 'kid's' kit somewhere in a place like Bunnings recently. The stuff in it looked pretty shonky. Maybe I'm scarred, because I well remember getting something like that as a kid. It was a bitter disappointment, even to a 6 yr old - the saw & chisel were made of mild steel, so you couldn't do anything with them.

Trouble with making up your own kit is you need a vague idea of what to get, which is really decided by what you want to make. A few basic tools do a few basic jobs. The suggestions by Wheelin' are sensible, and wouldn't cost the earth, though there's more in his list than needed for a truly basic kit. Next problem is to have someone show him how to actually use them to best advantage. Ideally, both child and dad (or seems like mum, in this case!) ought to take up the hobby together. Decide on a not-too-ambitious project, get the minimum tools to do the job, and go from there. You could be about to discover a whole new world of real fun, together!

Cheers,

I'm with IanW. The local Bunnings had 'kids' sets a while back & they were very ordinary.
A kit such as Wheelin' suggested, plus a screwdriver, rule, a square and some drills, but maybe minus the gouges at this stage would be a good start. Also, a book with some plans starting with something simple - I'll have a look in my library.

Also, get him making things with paddle pop sticks - I'm still using the coaster my daughter made when she was about that age (but it's pretty grotty now!)

Where the heck is Buxton.
In WA we have a mob called Mitre10 and they have plans for things like pencil boxes and letter boxes etc and used to do simple kits. Dont know if they still do.

Ask some of his school mates mums & dads if anyone is willing to give him a start and a few pointers.

Here is a challange for the whole forum. make up some reeeeeealy simple plans for Mel and son.
Here is an airplane made from a clothes peg and couple of pop sticks.
The body is a wooden clothes peg without the spring and the two halves reversed, the wings are popsticks bought from a hobby shop, the wheels are just sliced off the end of a bit of 4mm dowel and the ring on top is a tiny screwin ring so it can be hung from stick.
all glued together.

Forunna, thanks for the cool little plane plan, my apprentice can't wait to have a go. Small projects, quick to complete are so rewarding for kids.

Mel, good on you for wanting to encourage your son. One of mine (the 5 year old) is also keen, and was bought a kid's kit from A Hardware Chain. Rubbish!!!!! One go at using the saw and he was in tears of frustration. I put him together a basic kit myself, as others have suggested, and now the rotten little coot has knicked off with my Shark saw and is happy as Larry.
A shark saw is a Japanese-style saw which cuts on the pull stroke rather than the push; it has plenty of teeth, hence the name, and is very rewarding for a child as long as they understand how sharp it is!! My dad used to say "A blunt knife is a dangerous knife", and the same applies to tools. The less force needed to do the job, the less likelihood of mishap (and at least you'll cut yourself cleanly, rather than mangling the flesh!) Kids deserve quality or they will give up.


As to pre-drilled wood kits, great idea. We get offcuts in all shapes and sizes from a local workshop. Often they don't need further sawing as the design comes from the materials at hand. Abel plays around with them until inspiration hit, then he plans what he wants to do and tells me about it. He tries to draw a plan, but his Mum is too dumb to interpret his complicated diagrams ... I then pre-drill or put pilot holes where needed. I do as many as I can at once, in advance, so he won't need to annoy the c##p out of me and distract me while I'm working on my own projects.

We also picked up some pre-cut kits from the post office (!) which are just glued together and painted. Everything is included and they are a good way for kids to get an idea of how things fit together.

Have fun, Mel.

Another possible source for ideas - there is a shop/business around the corner from our house, in Elsternwick (SE Melbourne) called Learning By Doing Woodwork Room Pty Ltd that specialize in teaching young kids the skills of woodwork. I havent been there as our nipper is not quite 2 yet, so a bit young to swing a hammer (doesnt stop him trying though!!) but they might be happy to offer advice. I would definately avoid the 'put-together' kids kits, because of the chance of low quality tools turning them off.

Thank you to everyone for your advice - looks like it is going to be more complicated than I had anticipated.... I had hoped for something that could be added to the Christmas presents.

It looks like I will be going looking for plans....

Helen

I bought kits for my son last year. There was a plane and a train. They had all the pieces accuratelly cut and predrilled made of pine not balsa. He had to glue it together and paint it. It was a good start. I think they came from toyworld. I will try to find out what the brand was when I get home tonight.