Kids in the shed and working with wood

Just after some practical advice regarding kids in the shed...

I'm currently fitting out a new shed, or "The Palace" as the kids have dubbed it. I'm spending quite a bit of time there and understandably the kids are interested in whats going on, wanting to help and make things as well.

Thinking about this, I actually want to encourage the kids to be around and don't want to discourage them from visiting and taking an interest in wood work. A no kids in the shed while dad is working/playing (depending on your point of view) is a bit extreme but obviously safe for them.

The kids are aged 10, 8 (girls) and 5 (the boy). The boy is especially keen and generally it is a great bonding opportunity.

After some advice as to what you might have done to get kids involved SAFELY in woodwork around machines but also ensuring that it is interesting for them.

Ashes,

I think kids belong in the shed with you! I established some very clear rules with mine. Only one person near / using a machine at any one time. The only exception is if Im holding a chisel etc to show how its done. The only machines the kids use are the lathe, drill press (both only on low speed) and the grinder. PPE, no excuses, eyewear and hearing protection always. Keep the workplace clean, I got them both to have a bit of a slide on some shavings to rub it in. Empty waste as soon as we are finished. When you are finished with a tool put it back where you got it from.

Electrical safety, chemicals used etc are my responsibility. Tool sharpening is my responsibility but I also supervise the ones they use. My razor sharp skew stays in the rack, Im not that good at it myself!! I let them use a scraper instead.

As I said children belong in the shed with you, go for it!

what Sebastiaan said!!! Also, their own workbench and tool shelf or toolbox. They are responsible for their tools, from cleaning to sharpening (when you think they are ready), to putting away at the end of their Tool Time.

Grouse! :D

Rule One: Respect. For you, for me, for sharp edges, for the wood, etc
Rule Two: Clean up after yourself and put it back where it lives
Rule Three: Try something new every day.

That's my rules for life, they should do you for the workshop!

On a practical point, kids love making useful stuff - toolboxes, sawbenches the right height, workbenches, bench hooks, handles, toys, boxes for stuff...

And remember the most dangerous thing in a shed is either a dull blade or the person holding it.

In my experience (2 kids - boy 5 and girl 3), kids hate power tools - too noisy.

But they still must wear safety glasses.

The other absolute rules that I have found to be useful:

1. you can't come into the workshop unless I am there AND you are fully dressed, including boots
2. when you cut, chisel , plane or hammer anything, it must be clamped down firmly (it makes it easier anyway, but the amount of damage that it avoids is amazing)
3. WALK DON'T RUN
4. Put it back where it lives
5. If you need something, ask me
6. At the end of each session, we tidy up and turn out the lights.

There is a good book called Workshop for Kids by Jack McKee. Beg borrow or buy a copy - the tips are good as are some of the projects.

I was helping out with a Boy Scout Eagle project. The three boys were 15 or so. None could drive yet.

I started with the "Hold up your hands" speech. You arrived with ten and you are going to leave with ten. Everything is dangerous. Do not distract the operator of the machine. The chisels are sharp enough to allow you to remove your appendix.

Screw around or horse play or EVEN LOOK LIKE YOU'RE JUST THINKING ABOUT IT, you're out of here. You'll have to call your mother to come and get you.

If nothing else it got their attention.

I wouldn't let them use the table saw but a router, miter saw, drill and sander was OK. With each tool, it was hold it this way, put pressure here and expect this.

Of the three of them, one I would have back any time. The other two required very close supervision.

kids and machinery dont mix
a power dirill is about all i would trust any kid under 15 with
hand tools pretty much ok
i have had kids around my workshop for many years and found it best for them to have their own sheds with their own tools
i was always happy to answer questions etc but they pretty much did their own thing and learned their own way of doing things

i spent a lot of time hunting for missing tools

CLOSE SUPERVISION!

Personally I dont give a purple rats left buttock if the kid has is or was doing woodwork at school... this is NOT school... therefore to me every kid that enters the shed is a total complete and utter moron without a flamin clue of whats what

Therefore they all start at the BOTTOM of the pecking order... no ifs no buts and no getting away with it.

Ive had 5 of the 8 come in there to "have a go" at making something or other

Yaz... wont step more than 2 foot inside the cave end of story

Melissa... although she is curious and wants to learn has the attention span of a gnat and a mouth that never stops... so all work stops when Wissy turns up for a visit at the shed

Tiffany can waltz into the shed any time she wants... simply because she obeys the rules
1) Bang on the shed wall ONCE and wait till I stop what Im doing then once more if I havent noticed
2) DONT touch a bloody thing unless I okay it
3) LISTEN and learn do not stand nodding your head and having your mind in nutural LISTEN.
4) ASK questions... the ONLY dumb stupid question is the one you DONT ask..
5) I am not only dad and therefore god I am in my shed THE GOD!

Ive shown her the operations of all the tools in the shed and shes used a few of them shes scared witless of the forstner bits after seeing the results of my munching my finger... very leery of the jointer and bandsaw and terrified of the Triton router but otherwise loves it

Aarons been pretty much banned from any work in the shed till he gets a brain... damned kid thinks he knows everything and that makes him damned dangerous in my book... if were doing something and he wants to help he can at this time fetch and watch fetch and watch etc etc

Bethany goes "ooooeee like its like soooooo dusty and yuck" and thats that shes off like a rat up a drainpipe... loves what comes out of the shed but cant abide the place herself.

Jacinta is able to come in and help and enjoyed our time out there particularily when we made a jewellery box that she believed was for her mother but was given to her... she goes slow and steady and takes her time asks questions and doesnt muck about

Brie... can watch... shes okay actually but it doesnt interest her to learn although she will pass me things from time to time... shes more into makeovers and hairstyling and such "girly things"

Josh... well Josh loves the shed but hes a damned short wheel based little fella and Ive had to make him a few stands so he can reach the tools in safety... hes got an attention span that lasts as long as it lasts but if what it is hes makin isnt done by then well... I watch him like a hawk and generally all we do is what he is doing... distractions are not allowed.... hes pretty good though which is great... when done he packs up cleans up and is off like a rocket.

On the grandies side... Tiffs son Lukas LOVES the shed... 2 and a half now Lukas is getting the rules clear and will bang wait and when I stop he yells "POPPY ME SHED!!" so I stop things get his bench out and put a job to him he likes to mark out most... but also loves his dad or mum holding him up to watch when Im on the lathe :2tsup: A while back I made him his own set of mallets from mock orange and one lives permanently in their car another in his toybox and the other on his night table... Tiff gets a bit phissed with that one from time to time as hes taken to knocking it on the top of the night table when he wants her attention at night but hey! Thats what I made it for!! :;

Little Iszy is a pocket rocket... so ALL and EVERYTHING stops when she makes her way into the shed at almost 2 shes terrifying to watch!! Into and touches everything with the most amazingly cheeky grin on her dial... but shes terrifying simply because she NEVER stops moving!!... Enjoyable time is had mostly when I have a large heep of sawdust and shavings under the lathe we dont call this kid the "feral fairy" for nothing! :U

The kids have been "helping" me in the shed even before we had a shed... Aaron and Tiff in particular have always been beside me "doin stuff" from the time they were just out of nappies... even when the "shed" was the laundry (Carnarvon) or living room (Mandurah) which was handy since it meant they had to share the wrath of her bloody highness when the dust and sawdust got over everything :2tsup:

Share the shed time with them they make it worthwhile... but have some BASIC SOLID and totally NO ARGUMENTS rules... get them with that and they will be an awesome extra set of hands!! :2tsup:

Actually thinking about it... Tiffany recently made her own bookcase and rocking chair so maybe I taught the girl something!!! :2tsup:

Wow:2tsup:

SWMBO is a teacher and when I asked her about this in general her response was, general rules are a good start and provide consistency but each kid is different and will require different types of support and encouragement.

My girls come to the shed all the time. I let them in when I am working with hand tools only. There are rules and they know it. They are allowed to draw on the workbench. They are allowed to play with the scrapwood but they need to ask me first. All machines are disconnected but they are not allowed to touch the switches.

I occasionally use the table saw they will have to sit on the workbench with a pair of ear muffs on.


Aren't they lovely? :D

My kids are still young, and I mostly work on the lathe, so it's machine work. They don't like to be close to any power tools because of the noise. When they want to watch I put out the "watching stool". They are allowed to sit on the watching stool but not move from it. It is carefully placed out of the firing line and a few metres back. They wear safety glasses.

I also bought a few little kits from Crazy Clarks. They are little wooden cars/planes/trucks etc. The boy (7) has his own tools and glues and nails together the kits. WHen he wants to do that he gets undivided attention from me - more for his enjoyment and our bonding rather than for safety. I don't reckon he could even hurt himself with his hammer - it's too light.

Peter

Rules in the shed for kids! Definitely! Most of them apply to any adult visitiors as well, the non-woodworking kind that is. Mother looked at me a bit funny when I told her the rules, but considering that she's the worst offender for sneaking up on me:rolleyes:

No one comes near me or taps me on the shoulder when I've got the ear muffs on and the power tool running. Do not interrupt me or make me stop if I'm gluing up or shellacing. No one enters my shed without my permission or presence (except HWMNBO).

If there are any children in the shed with me, my work stops until they leave the shed again and they get my full attention.

cheers
Wendy

Nothing with sharp points or edges, no power tools that they can't lift or trigger (so that means the little cheap cordless/gutless screwdriver is just about ok), no running/jumping/skipping around when I'm using power tools, no standing in kickback areas (fortunately they tend find the noise of power tools too much even with ear protection so they keep a good distance).

The nail gun gets disconnected from the air line if I'm going to leave the immediate area, as it is by far the easiest to trigger power tool for its damage potential.

And little miss curious with the long hair gets nowhere near anything with rotating parts!

In my shed I can switch off all the power points at the switch board in the shed which is just inside the door. This will eliminate the possibllity of my little tacker starting any machines when I am not there (I have a little time to wait as he is only 17 months now).

This was the solution my electrician came up with when I asked for a single switch to turn all the power off in the shed.

Just an update..

Purchased the kids one of those cheap workmate type benches (warrior brand). Pretty average piece of kit but OK for the kids. It also came with some basic tools like saw, clamps, screwdrivers etc.

Did the big safety lesson, around safety glasses, environment, distractions etc which the kids really took notice of.

The 5yo boy, is happy to cut things and tells me off if I speak to him while he is cutting!! Good double handed technique and he's learning not to force the saw.

We spent pretty much all day out in the shed on Sunday and had a great time. I've got the woodshop for kids book on order and looking forward to actually building some things.