Well, last weekend I was out in the shop just cleaning up still, and loading a cord of firewood that was delivered to our home, after we stacked the wood I continued cleaning up the shop and getting ready for some jobs coming up, and my son wanted something to do, so I told him to go over to the wood bin, grab anything he wants, and I pointed him to my bench of planes, and he picked out an old Stanley spokeshave, he put a piece of scrap up in the vise, and he commenced to shaving down that piece of wood till he had a "spear" to go with a gladiator shield he and I made together a few weeks back. My son was on that stick shaving it down for two hours, just having a blast, yep, just stick a piece of wood in a boys hand and give him a saw or a plane and sit back and watch him entertain himself!

HA  Cool~!!

When my grandson was 10 he wanted to make something in my shop. Not just pound in nails. I went to HD and got children's size Goggles and dust mask. I also had a smaller face shield that he put on. He was uncomfortable and a bit scared, never had to dress in this kind of gear. I took him to my mini lathe and he got concerned. I had a small piece of pine mounted and I turned it on, he backed away. I reassured him by putting my hands over his and my body behind him. We started lightly turning and he was very tense. However he soon was enjoying it. I eased my control a bit and allowed him to turn by him self. It lasted about 5 minutes and he had made a piece with his own curves.  He said "Awesome"  I hope I have planted a seed in his mind, however he has not mentioned it since. He is now 12 and don't show interest in woodworking, however he created his own web site and is into programming.   

When my grandson was 10 he wanted to make something in my shop. Not just pound in nails. I went to HD and got children's size Goggles and dust mask. I also had a smaller face shield that he put on. He was uncomfortable and a bit scared, never had to dress in this kind of gear. I took him to my mini lathe and he got concerned. I had a small piece of pine mounted and I turned it on, he backed away. I reassured him by putting my hands over his and my body behind him. We started lightly turning and he was very tense. However he soon was enjoying it. I eased my control a bit and allowed him to turn by him self. It lasted about 5 minutes and he had made a piece with his own curves.  He said "Awesome"  I hope I have planted a seed in his mind, however he has not mentioned it since. He is now 12 and don't show interest in woodworking, however he created his own web site and is into programming.   

That's wonderful Ron! The lathe has got to be one of the most intimidating experience for kids, even adults. I remember when I was about that age my dad got me on the lathe, but not before he showed me how it's supposed to be done, the chunk of wood flew off and bounced off the wall behind the lathe and knocked him in the head, then he gave me the lathe tool and told me, "Here, try it". Hmmm. may be why I have not tired it since till now! The old dark closet in the brain was at work all these years preventing me from giving it a whirl again!

Hey Ron, is there any possibility you could share your grandsons website with us?

HA  Cool~!!

Yep Cliff, the best babysitter for a child is a set of tools and a chunk of wood!

Great fun! Far better than video games.

That is really cool that he is leaning to use those hand tools. Great experience.

That is really cool that he is leaning to use those hand tools. Great experience.

He's gotten more use out of them than I have lately John, working on changing that now.

John, my grandson's site is a gaming site and I know as much about those games as I do flying to the moon. I'll talk to him and see if he minds sharing

John, my grandson's site is a gaming site and I know as much about those games as I do flying to the moon. I'll talk to him and see if he minds sharing

Great Ron! Dabbling in web development as I do, I am interested in what he has come up with, don't worry, I won't be that old man hanging out on a kids gaming forum! Just curious is all. And good on him getting involved this early!