Getting Kids Interested in a Career in Woodworking
One way you can enjoy your time with your kids is by engaging in projects. You can easily bond with them while at the same time teach them useful skills. Woodworking is one of the best skills you can teach your kids. It will help them as they grow, and besides, it is fun. Kids love to build, and it is no secret that they are always willing to exhibit their creative nature. You can help them explore their creativity by introducing them to woodworking. Here’s how you can do it without having to enroll them in any special school program.
Start Planning
You may have a busy schedule, but that shouldn’t discourage you from the task ahead. You need to organize your schedule to fit into your plans. You can make out weekends to teach your kids woodworking or do this during the long holidays. However, before then get all the tools ready that you will be using for the training. Organize your woodwork supplies and tools.
Start Small and Slowly
It is only normal that you are excited about teaching your kids this skill, but if you want them to understand woodwork, you will need to be a bit slow in teaching it. First show them the tools used for woodwork and what they are used for. You can start by showing them pictures, and then when they have mastered it, you can move on to another stage.
Teach Your Kids About Wood
When it comes to woodworking, you should know that there are different types of wood. Each is useful for different kinds of projects. You should also let your kids know where these woods are derived from. You should teach them about using softwoods for woodwork projects like white pine, cedar, fir, and redwood.
Start With Easy Projects
You should start teaching your kids how to make very little things. Working on complex projects will only confuse them. You can get some inspiration on kid-friendly woodworking ideas from sources like Sawinery.
You should engage them with short projects that they can complete on time, if not they might lose interest. You can make simple wood items to get them started.
Work With Real Tools
Learning woodwork without the required tools is a waste of time. You need to teach your kids practical examples like how to measure, cut, and join pieces of wood together. You can only do this with real carpentry tools. It will help them understand the importance of safety when working with these tools. Teach them how to use nails, saw, hammer, paintbrush, sandpaper, and many others. You should get the easiest working tools for them like the hacksaw. You should ensure that the tools you are working with are sharp and effective.
Educate Them About Safety
You need to let them know that safety comes first. Even though you need to be around to supervise them while they work, they will still have to work with these tools on their own. Teach them to respect the tools they work with and show them how to use vises or clamps to hold wood steady.
Conclusion
When your kids want to build anything, always be there to guide them. You may need to step back to let them handle their projects but don’t leave them alone. When they need help assist but let them do most of the work by themselves. It is always fun watching them work and seeing them express their creative abilities.
