chrisphr Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 I've got two 6yos and a 5yo. To date they haven't shown any interest in "exploring " the garage shop other than picking up scrap pieces and playing with piles of sawdust, but since their outdoor toys are in the garage they do have access. I leave all my tools unplugged and sharp stuff put away when I'm done working but wanted to poll the group on what child safety precautions you take? Also, what "rules" or discussion points have you had with your kids to get across playing in the garage/with tools is a bad idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 It sounds like you have taken good precautions. About a million years ago when my kids were that age we just talked with them about not playing with anything in the garage that belonged to daddy because if they did they might hurt them selves... I guess it worked, they are both still alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 My kids know that if a machine is running not to open the door or if the door is open not to bother me. I only had to tell them once, everyone else on the other hand seems to think that is the time they should walk up for a chat. I've been very lucky... My kids tend to follow instructions when it involves safety. Goes for everything in my shop, they know not to mess with my things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxerjoe04 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Tell them not to touch anything that isn't theirs or they'll get their butt whipped, worked for me when I was a kid haha, and if it didn't work, after the butt whipping it did, i turned out fine.... for the most part haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h3nry Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 3 hours ago, Chet K. said: we just talked with them about not playing with anything in the garage that belonged to daddy because if they did they might hurt them selves. That doesn't always work. Not so long ago with a borrowed older truck ... the 10 year old kid with me had never seen a cigarette lighter in the socket before and asked what it was ... so I explained it to him ... and told him not to play with it or he'd burn himself ... About 5 minutes later after I'd gone into the house there was a scream from outside, and he came running in with a burn on his finger ... Some kids have to learn the hard way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncfowler Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 when my children were younger they expressed interests in building things, this was about the age groups you all are talking about, I simply started them using simple tools, under supervision, like hammers, screwdrivers, and even a hand saw, mind when I grew up I was given a tool set that now days would dive Protective services over the edge, it consists of the a hand saw, a hand drill (looks like hand crank egg beater) square, screw drivers, and a ruler. These are the same tools I let my kids work with, I would cut out the pieces and they would assemble them, over time they started to work some power tools under supervision, Teaching them to understand and respect the tools was the goal, 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 I started introducing my son to edged hand tools around that age. Although he has no big interest in woodworking, he still loves to take a whittling jack and turn sticks into shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisphr Posted July 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Thanks everyone, sounds like I was already on the right track. Both a noob at woodworking and at parenting kids so it was good to get the confirmation. Mike, I think there is something to the noise of power tools, when I was a kid I was naturally scared of them because of the noise, I think mine are the same way. When the get older, can introduce some basic tools to get used to using them. Ncfowler, thanks for the memory, I remember having an egg beater drill as my "starter" drill when I was a kid. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 My dad kept me away from his tools by making me help him on projects. He taught me safety with the table saw and other powered tools then used me as an out feed table. After being made to help i didn't touch the tools they were boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ..Kev Posted July 11, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Don't make them afraid of the stuff! Just be honest and tell them what could happen and the ways to ensure it doesn't happen. Tell them that if they have interest in learning that you will teach them but, not to touch stuff without you there. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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