| Some families watch television, others like to play | | | | help out a little more by letting them make some |
| sports. But you are a woodsman and your child | | | | decisions and do some of the work. Depending on |
| loves to copy you! So how can you safely include | | | | their age, you may not want to give them access |
| your children in your woodworking activities? It's | | | | to a saw or drill. An appropriate age would be ten, |
| simple. Before letting your child touch any of your | | | | when they are less clumsy and can grasp the |
| woodworking tools, you must have a safety talk | | | | aspects of the danger that the tools can cause. |
| with them. Let them know which tools they are | | | | Another option for your younger children is to |
| able to touch, such as the hammer, nails and | | | | buy them a child-sized tool kit. This will give them |
| other non sharp and non electrical items. You don't | | | | courage and confidence in helping you. Having their |
| ever want your young child to operate a saw or | | | | very own toolbox is very encouraging for them. |
| a drill. They may think they don't need you | | | | You can also let them put the pieces together or |
| around to use it, so just avoid giving them that | | | | fill in the holes that you drill, for instance if you are |
| habit all together. | | | | making a wooden rack to hang keys or coats, |
| After you have a safety talk with your child | | | | you can drill the hole, while your child places the |
| about your woodwork shop and its tools, you can | | | | hooks into them. |
| begin to show them how each of the tools work. | | | | After finishing the creation of your project, the |
| Many like to begin with simple tasks such as | | | | real fun begins. Bring out the painting tools and |
| sanding wood or holding the drill. But before you | | | | enjoy in a family time of fun and creativity. This |
| begin, you and your child need to decide on what | | | | should be placed in the hands of the child, since |
| project you will want to work on together. There | | | | most love to decorate with colors. If this is their |
| are many things you could make that will actually | | | | first time painting, you should show them how to |
| come in handy or that will be fun for your child | | | | neatly brush the paint onto the wood in straight |
| after creating it. Such as a wooden horse that | | | | lines in the same direction. But allow them to |
| rocks, a doll house, tree house or a car. | | | | choose the colors and where they go. |
| Once you choose the project, you can then show | | | | When your project is fully complete, congratulate |
| your child which tools will be necessary for the | | | | them! Make them feel like it was their work that |
| job and why. Have them hand you each tool - | | | | made the wood what it is now. This will open up a |
| make sure to call each one by its correct name - | | | | door for them to want to create new things. You |
| so that they can learn while watching. After they | | | | never know, they may come up with an award |
| thoroughly understand how you are using each of | | | | winning invention! |
| the woodworking tools, you can allow them to | | | | |