[bolger] Re: 3 year old.......
My son Bonham was about fourteen when he and I built our Tennessee:
http://www.hilconet.com/~dworksmg/articles/building/index.htm
He probably did more of the work than I did. What is really remarkable is
that he stuck it out to the very end.
Don mentioned that kids grow up too soon and go off somewhere - well Bonham
has gone off to college, but we have that experience to reminisce about. In
fact it came up just this evening. He and his laundry are home for the
holidays, and his mother and I are actually enjoying having him around.
Chuck Leinweber
Duckworks Magazine
http://www.hilconet.com/~dworksmg
http://www.hilconet.com/~dworksmg/articles/building/index.htm
He probably did more of the work than I did. What is really remarkable is
that he stuck it out to the very end.
Don mentioned that kids grow up too soon and go off somewhere - well Bonham
has gone off to college, but we have that experience to reminisce about. In
fact it came up just this evening. He and his laundry are home for the
holidays, and his mother and I are actually enjoying having him around.
Chuck Leinweber
Duckworks Magazine
http://www.hilconet.com/~dworksmg
----- Original Message -----
From: gmatkin <gmatkin@...>
To: <bolger@egroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 6:48 AM
Subject: [bolger] Re: 3 year old.......
> Bill Derby's right. Kids (mine are three and five) seem to love painting
> with latex paint, and they're easy to clean - you just give them a bath.
> They may not help much, or for long, in other ways, but in my experience
> they're happy to play nearby while you work and they just /love/ to see
> something coming together before their eyes. You'll be a hero to your son,
> Frascisco, at least for a few years.
>
> But I've never built a Bolger boat. I should shut up. (But I have read
just
> about all the books!)
>
> Gavin
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The only fruitcake at overstock.com is our manager.
> He's giving away a $20 coupon, plus our everyday Free Shipping.
> Take advantage of the savings and selection now.
>http://click.egroups.com/1/342/5/_/3457/_/945739549
>
> -- Check out your group's private Chat room
> --http://www.egroups.com/ChatPage?listName=bolger&m=1
>
>
To all:
I hate to be the wet blanket here, but I will be. My credentials to do
so has to do with my being (much earlier in life) an ambulance attendant. I
currently work with children, and my wife is a physical therapist
specializing in treating injured and developmentally delayed children. But
first let me say the idea of kids working in the shop alongside parents on
something that will be a joyful part of family life is wonderfully appealing.
Please don't take what I have to say personally.
I am uncomfortable with the idea of a 3 year old working in the shop.
They do not have the attention span or the judgment to keep themselves out of
trouble. You will have to do that for them, and the results and risks to you
of that kind of distraction have already been addressed. Even if you tell
them what to do and what not to do, they will not be able to retain this
information with any meaningful kind of reliability. In testing myself (for
a nephews visit), I find I cannot maintain the kind of vigilance that would
keep a 3 year old safe. So many times I have heard from parents "...I just
looked away for a second". I am even uncomfortable with latex paint. The
toxic lead is out of it by law, but not the toxic mercury. This is a prime
age for poisoning. Finally, I know my response could be a kind of
over-reaction, since I only saw the bad outcomes, but I hope my view can be
helpful. Regards, Warren
I hate to be the wet blanket here, but I will be. My credentials to do
so has to do with my being (much earlier in life) an ambulance attendant. I
currently work with children, and my wife is a physical therapist
specializing in treating injured and developmentally delayed children. But
first let me say the idea of kids working in the shop alongside parents on
something that will be a joyful part of family life is wonderfully appealing.
Please don't take what I have to say personally.
I am uncomfortable with the idea of a 3 year old working in the shop.
They do not have the attention span or the judgment to keep themselves out of
trouble. You will have to do that for them, and the results and risks to you
of that kind of distraction have already been addressed. Even if you tell
them what to do and what not to do, they will not be able to retain this
information with any meaningful kind of reliability. In testing myself (for
a nephews visit), I find I cannot maintain the kind of vigilance that would
keep a 3 year old safe. So many times I have heard from parents "...I just
looked away for a second". I am even uncomfortable with latex paint. The
toxic lead is out of it by law, but not the toxic mercury. This is a prime
age for poisoning. Finally, I know my response could be a kind of
over-reaction, since I only saw the bad outcomes, but I hope my view can be
helpful. Regards, Warren
I'd responded off-list to Francisco, but since we've got a good thread
on this topic going now, I'll add my 2 cents on kids boatbuilding.
Given the nature of Bolger's instant boats - I suspect these are quite
often "family projects" with kids involved, so its good to hear some
specifics (Seth?) about age-appropriate tasks.
My son built his first boat with me at age 7 ("Joe's Double Paddle
Canoe")....I have some tips for boatbuilding with families/kids on my
website
(see below) " at:
http://www.alaska.net/~fritzf/Boats/family_boatbuilding/familyboatbuild
ing.htm
Most of that applies to older kids (age 7-15).
When Joe was younger than age 7, he loved to just be in the workshop.
At about age 4 or 5, I would drill a bunch of pilot holes and let him
nail into them, nailing
thin boards together (very small nails and a small hammer --and safety
glasses!). As others have related, you really need to be careful
around glue and power tools with kids in the shop! I always kept a
very close eye on him till he was older.
At age 5 and 6 a wood rasp became of interest and made very useful work
of rounding over edges - just make sure it is clear to the child WHICH
edges to round - they can get easily carried away and round everything
in sight!!
At about age 6 he loved the brace and bit and would spend hours boring
holes - I usually just put a countersink in the chuck - for some reason
he
really liked boring holes with the countersink, slow as it was--it was
the right height for him (and I didn't cringe quite so hard when he
bored through to the cement!).
At about age 7 Joe became very competent at drilling holes with a power
drill - he helped a lot on my Sneakeasy. I'd go ahead of him and mark
"X's" for drilling locations and he did a great job (use a drill
stop!). Other kids around that age I've worked with have done well
with drilling too. I follow behind with the screw gun - makes for good
teamwork. Takes awhile longer for them to really be a good helper at
the screw-fastening part.
Clench-nailed butt blocks have been a particularly big hit - kids LOVE
to have an excuse to bend over nails "on purpose"!!
Fritz Funk
http://www.alaska.net/~fritzf/Boats/Boats.htm
(Bolger Sneakeasy and other projects)
on this topic going now, I'll add my 2 cents on kids boatbuilding.
Given the nature of Bolger's instant boats - I suspect these are quite
often "family projects" with kids involved, so its good to hear some
specifics (Seth?) about age-appropriate tasks.
My son built his first boat with me at age 7 ("Joe's Double Paddle
Canoe")....I have some tips for boatbuilding with families/kids on my
website
(see below) " at:
http://www.alaska.net/~fritzf/Boats/family_boatbuilding/familyboatbuild
ing.htm
Most of that applies to older kids (age 7-15).
When Joe was younger than age 7, he loved to just be in the workshop.
At about age 4 or 5, I would drill a bunch of pilot holes and let him
nail into them, nailing
thin boards together (very small nails and a small hammer --and safety
glasses!). As others have related, you really need to be careful
around glue and power tools with kids in the shop! I always kept a
very close eye on him till he was older.
At age 5 and 6 a wood rasp became of interest and made very useful work
of rounding over edges - just make sure it is clear to the child WHICH
edges to round - they can get easily carried away and round everything
in sight!!
At about age 6 he loved the brace and bit and would spend hours boring
holes - I usually just put a countersink in the chuck - for some reason
he
really liked boring holes with the countersink, slow as it was--it was
the right height for him (and I didn't cringe quite so hard when he
bored through to the cement!).
At about age 7 Joe became very competent at drilling holes with a power
drill - he helped a lot on my Sneakeasy. I'd go ahead of him and mark
"X's" for drilling locations and he did a great job (use a drill
stop!). Other kids around that age I've worked with have done well
with drilling too. I follow behind with the screw gun - makes for good
teamwork. Takes awhile longer for them to really be a good helper at
the screw-fastening part.
Clench-nailed butt blocks have been a particularly big hit - kids LOVE
to have an excuse to bend over nails "on purpose"!!
Fritz Funk
http://www.alaska.net/~fritzf/Boats/Boats.htm
(Bolger Sneakeasy and other projects)
What a timely topic... I've got one who just turned three Saturday and
another ten months old.
I don't know about the rest of you, but when my wife sends the three year
old out to help, whether it is raking leaves or digging holes for shrubs, or
building boats, anything resembling progress towards the completion of my
task stops. We have lots of fun, but nothing gets done. Now I've got a new
strategy: give them some latex paint, a brush and a block of wood. When
their interest wanes, I'll return them to Mommy for clean-up. She won't do
that again! ;-)
Seriously, I'm looking forward to building boats for and with my kids. I'm
thinking they'll need to be six or seven before we can start. I'd love to
hear about others experiences.
John Bell
Kennesaw, GA
jmbell@...
http://jmbell.home.mindspring.com
another ten months old.
I don't know about the rest of you, but when my wife sends the three year
old out to help, whether it is raking leaves or digging holes for shrubs, or
building boats, anything resembling progress towards the completion of my
task stops. We have lots of fun, but nothing gets done. Now I've got a new
strategy: give them some latex paint, a brush and a block of wood. When
their interest wanes, I'll return them to Mommy for clean-up. She won't do
that again! ;-)
Seriously, I'm looking forward to building boats for and with my kids. I'm
thinking they'll need to be six or seven before we can start. I'd love to
hear about others experiences.
John Bell
Kennesaw, GA
jmbell@...
http://jmbell.home.mindspring.com
----- Original Message -----
From: gmatkin <gmatkin@...>
To: <bolger@egroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 9:48 AM
Subject: [bolger] Re: 3 year old.......
> Bill Derby's right. Kids (mine are three and five) seem to love painting
> with latex paint, and they're easy to clean - you just give them a bath.
> They may not help much, or for long, in other ways, but in my experience
> they're happy to play nearby while you work and they just /love/ to see
> something coming together before their eyes. You'll be a hero to your son,
> Frascisco, at least for a few years.
>
> But I've never built a Bolger boat. I should shut up. (But I have read
just
> about all the books!)
>
> Gavin
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The only fruitcake at overstock.com is our manager.
> He's giving away a $20 coupon, plus our everyday Free Shipping.
> Take advantage of the savings and selection now.
>http://click.egroups.com/1/342/5/_/3457/_/945739549
>
> -- Check out your group's private Chat room
> --http://www.egroups.com/ChatPage?listName=bolger&m=1
>
>
With children in the shop remember your own safety as well as your
child's. Worrying about their safety can be dangerously distracting.
My five year old daughter tried hard to "help" me one day by walking
up while I was ripping some boards at the table saw to catch them as
they came out. I was so distracted by watching what she was doing
that I ran my thumb through the blade, cutting it almost to the bone,
barely missing the distal joint and nicking the flexor tendon sheath.
The ventrolateral aspect of the distal thumb is still numb months
later because I cut the nerve, which was too small to repair.
This is the first power tool injury of my life (about 20 years of
frequent power tool use), as I have always paid close attention to
every cut.
No children are in the shop now when I fire up any cutting power
tool. This will be the case until they are old enough that I don't
have to think about them while working.
This daughter will, however, build a good proportion of the small
instant boat I'm planning for us this spring. She can paint for
sure, and hold parts while I hammer or drive screws, and should be
able to hammer some nails. She especially likes holding nails or
screws or tools and handing them to me as I need them - she's been
doing this since she was three and now knows the names of most of my
hand tools.
Sean Rooney
-Teal (or Elegant Punt or Carnell $200 boat) in planning stage, soon
to order plans and start buying materials
-Diablo in thinking about stage
child's. Worrying about their safety can be dangerously distracting.
My five year old daughter tried hard to "help" me one day by walking
up while I was ripping some boards at the table saw to catch them as
they came out. I was so distracted by watching what she was doing
that I ran my thumb through the blade, cutting it almost to the bone,
barely missing the distal joint and nicking the flexor tendon sheath.
The ventrolateral aspect of the distal thumb is still numb months
later because I cut the nerve, which was too small to repair.
This is the first power tool injury of my life (about 20 years of
frequent power tool use), as I have always paid close attention to
every cut.
No children are in the shop now when I fire up any cutting power
tool. This will be the case until they are old enough that I don't
have to think about them while working.
This daughter will, however, build a good proportion of the small
instant boat I'm planning for us this spring. She can paint for
sure, and hold parts while I hammer or drive screws, and should be
able to hammer some nails. She especially likes holding nails or
screws or tools and handing them to me as I need them - she's been
doing this since she was three and now knows the names of most of my
hand tools.
Sean Rooney
-Teal (or Elegant Punt or Carnell $200 boat) in planning stage, soon
to order plans and start buying materials
-Diablo in thinking about stage
I would get him dressed in some old clothes, give him a scrap piece of
wood and a paint brush and let him paint the wood. give him internal
pieces that have been sanded and ready to paint and let him paint them.
(I use exterior latex house paint)
Kids clean up wonderfully.
Just keep him away from the expoxy.
wood and a paint brush and let him paint the wood. give him internal
pieces that have been sanded and ready to paint and let him paint them.
(I use exterior latex house paint)
Kids clean up wonderfully.
Just keep him away from the expoxy.
Bill Derby's right. Kids (mine are three and five) seem to love painting
with latex paint, and they're easy to clean - you just give them a bath.
They may not help much, or for long, in other ways, but in my experience
they're happy to play nearby while you work and they just /love/ to see
something coming together before their eyes. You'll be a hero to your son,
Frascisco, at least for a few years.
But I've never built a Bolger boat. I should shut up. (But I have read just
about all the books!)
Gavin
with latex paint, and they're easy to clean - you just give them a bath.
They may not help much, or for long, in other ways, but in my experience
they're happy to play nearby while you work and they just /love/ to see
something coming together before their eyes. You'll be a hero to your son,
Frascisco, at least for a few years.
But I've never built a Bolger boat. I should shut up. (But I have read just
about all the books!)
Gavin