This is a post in a series of 31 Days of Wood Finishing. See the intro post with all the topics here.
The previous post made me think about how you can encourage children to take up the skill/ hobby.
How to Encourage and Support Your Budding Woodworker
Woodworking is a wonderful way to teach children how to be resourceful and creative. It is a skill that a child can be taught from a young age and will come in handy their entire life. There are so many things one can do and build when woodworking. When a child shows interest in this area, a parent should do what they can to encourage them. So how does a parent go about encouraging and supporting their budding woodworker?
Safety First
Although woodworking is a great skill for children to learn, it can be dangerous if not given the respect it deserves. Woodworking involves tools, and needs to be regarded as a serious activity and not one to be taken lightly. Equipment such as table saws, jointers, and band saws can be a huge hazard to anyone not practicing proper safety measures. Treat everything with respect and care.
Age-Appropriate Tools Available
Balance is essential in all things. And along with strict safety guidelines, one should remember that children want to have fun. It is not going to go over well if you don’t allow your children to use any tools at all. There are plenty of tools, when children are supervised, that can bring hours of enjoyment to your budding woodworker. Be sure to make available to your children the tools they are allowed to get their hands on. Let them practice with hand drills, small hammers and the like in order to really feel a part of it all. I even allow them to use a hand plane, or a small saw with supervision.
To be continued
Zeke Willard