When should you start teaching...?

Laughingmouse · 05-21-2009, 05:12 PM

I think it is very important for people, both male and female, to learn to make things.

At what age would you start teaching a child some basic woodworking skills?

oldnamvet · 05-21-2009, 05:26 PM

I was about 5 or 6 when I showed an interest. My GPa would be doing something and explaining each step and why he was doing it, what you had to look out for, etc. Once my attention span was more than about a minute, he let me help with things. I think I was around 8 when I got to actually use a saw to cut a board. Taught me how to stay on line and use the saw properly. Start trying to teach them before they are interested and it will be punishment.

peerawit · 05-22-2009, 10:04 PM

5-6 isn't too young or not? For my country it should be around 12+

SageMother · 05-31-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peerawit

5-6 isn't too young or not? For my country it should be around 12+

What country are you in?

If it's the USA, then I can see how 12+ might seem like the right age. Our country seems to thrive on keeping kids as helpless as possible, under the guise of "protecting" them from risks!

I can think of several 5 and 6 year olds who could accomplish a lot more if their parents would "let go" a little!

Laughingmouse · 06-01-2009, 04:50 PM

I think that people in the US tend to extend childhood way too long.

six year old can at least hammer nails after an older person or adult has cut the wood for them, and I think Amish or Quaker kids pitch in with barn raisings, even if they are just pounding a few nails in the lower boards.

You don't have to have the attention span of a physicist to learn in short bursts of activity.

We really need to be more flexible with expectations.

Mike Davis · 06-27-2009, 02:24 PM

I started teaching my oldest daughter to recognize and say the names of hand tools when she was three, but she was already reading by then. I think every child is different and has different interests and abilities.

My son wasn't interested in wood work until he was 16, but he had done lots of other things by then. He was an Eagle Scout, black belt in TKD, professional magician, played guitar and could fish, hunt and canoe.

He finally decided he wanted to turn and he took off. He has sold walking canes and bowls now and he's only been turning for a few months.

OldNamVet is right, you have to let them decide when they are ready. Of course you can be a good example by talking about your hobby and showing them what you do. But, don't push them into anything. They will usually reject it and that will diminish your stature in their eyes.

renegade · 11-05-2009, 04:35 PM

I believe each child is different. I just let my son hang around the shop and tried to answer his questions. By 3 years old, he could drive 1 1/2 nails into the end grain of a large(20 inch diameter) piece of firewood I had by the open garage door just for him to practice on. Before long he was nailing scrap pine together. By age 5, he was cutting with a handsaw. He is now 21 and makes extra money making custom speaker and sub boxes for his friends and classmates in college

woodworking · 01-13-2010, 03:00 PM

I agree with renegade. My 5.5 year old boy is nailing, sawing and actually designing things. He doesn't really think of it as woodworking - more like projects with Dad. My 3.5 year old daughter is nailing and helping with glue and other details. I think the key is to engage children with a project that they are interested in. My kids love birds, so we just finished a birdhouse. They are usually happiest doing their own projects which are very wacky and nonsensical, but usually involve a few nails, a few wood scraps and whatever else they dream up. Arts and crafts, but with woodworking tools.

05-21-2009, 05:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Laughingmouse Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 77	When should you start teaching...? I think it is very important for people, both male and female, to learn to make things. At what age would you start teaching a child some basic woodworking skills?

05-22-2009, 10:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
peerawit Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 9	5-6 isn't too young or not? For my country it should be around 12+ __________________ Fein blade\|Power tool\|rockwell sonicrafter\|rockwell sonicraft\|rockwell sonic rafter\|fein multimaster tool saw blade\|fein multimaster blade\|Battery Pack\|forrest saw blade

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-21-2009, 05:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldnamvet Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mid michigan Posts: 114	I was about 5 or 6 when I showed an interest. My GPa would be doing something and explaining each step and why he was doing it, what you had to look out for, etc. Once my attention span was more than about a minute, he let me help with things. I think I was around 8 when I got to actually use a saw to cut a board. Taught me how to stay on line and use the saw properly. Start trying to teach them before they are interested and it will be punishment.

06-01-2009, 04:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Laughingmouse Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 77	I think that people in the US tend to extend childhood way too long. six year old can at least hammer nails after an older person or adult has cut the wood for them, and I think Amish or Quaker kids pitch in with barn raisings, even if they are just pounding a few nails in the lower boards. You don't have to have the attention span of a physicist to learn in short bursts of activity. We really need to be more flexible with expectations.

06-27-2009, 02:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mike Davis Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 23	I started teaching my oldest daughter to recognize and say the names of hand tools when she was three, but she was already reading by then. I think every child is different and has different interests and abilities. My son wasn't interested in wood work until he was 16, but he had done lots of other things by then. He was an Eagle Scout, black belt in TKD, professional magician, played guitar and could fish, hunt and canoe. He finally decided he wanted to turn and he took off. He has sold walking canes and bowls now and he's only been turning for a few months. OldNamVet is right, you have to let them decide when they are ready. Of course you can be a good example by talking about your hobby and showing them what you do. But, don't push them into anything. They will usually reject it and that will diminish your stature in their eyes.

11-05-2009, 04:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
renegade Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	I believe each child is different. I just let my son hang around the shop and tried to answer his questions. By 3 years old, he could drive 1 1/2 nails into the end grain of a large(20 inch diameter) piece of firewood I had by the open garage door just for him to practice on. Before long he was nailing scrap pine together. By age 5, he was cutting with a handsaw. He is now 21 and makes extra money making custom speaker and sub boxes for his friends and classmates in college

01-13-2010, 03:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
woodworking Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	I agree with renegade. My 5.5 year old boy is nailing, sawing and actually designing things. He doesn't really think of it as woodworking - more like projects with Dad. My 3.5 year old daughter is nailing and helping with glue and other details. I think the key is to engage children with a project that they are interested in. My kids love birds, so we just finished a birdhouse. They are usually happiest doing their own projects which are very wacky and nonsensical, but usually involve a few nails, a few wood scraps and whatever else they dream up. Arts and crafts, but with woodworking tools.