Something many of you can appreciate

[jeepman71]

Hi All,

As some of you might have noticed I have a grandson that is 3 1/2 years old. Since he was just a little guy I would take hime to my shop when he would come to visit. He would sit on my bench and ask to see different tools. As he got older his favorite tool ended up being a Rigid 12 volt drill. He could get his little hands arount the handle and pull the trigger.

I am remolding our family room and for the first time he actually got the oportunity to use the drill with a driver bit and "help" me hang drywall.

When he works in the shop with me he always asks for his "woods", his "gasses" (glasses), his "tool" (the Rigid drill) and his "ear music" head phones. Most of you with little ones around probably didn't need translation on those items.

He is learning safety and is usually very good about making sure a tool gets put back where it belongs.

He loves to watch his "Woods Show" with grandpa on Monday nights and pretty much anytime we are not in the shop together.

Some times things change..... I was informed last week that my daughter and son in law will be moving out of state in two weeks. Very crushing to think that I will not have my little "Garage Rat" with me in the shop any more but I do feel truly blessed to have had the times we have had. I hope I can nurture his joy for "woods" from long distance.

I have a few more days with him and plan to make plenty of mess with him.

Thanks for listening and no the're not tears I hav something in my eye.

Jim

[leehljp]

It is great when the grandkids love being around. I have one grandson that loves my vegetable garden. The little fellow (age 6) can weed a garden! i love it!

[scmhogg]

Probably just sawdust in your eye.

With the wonder of technology, you can keep your hand in with your grandson. Get him a computer with Skype. Make him a "woods" toy. Make a short video, showing how it was made. Keep him supplied with age appropriate tools. . . .

Steve

[chopnhack]

I agree with Steve, handiness is not as common as it once was, keep the next generations useful. My young'ins know the names of tools, the sounds they make, what sandpaper is, the smells of different woods, etc. but they don't know what DragonballZ is... So far my two don't care for cartoons and would rather be out playing ball, riding bikes, etc. so I hope I am doing something right.
As your grandson gets older, you may want to keep this item in mind. I have been thinking about it for my son who is going to be 5 this year... this afternoon he wanted to build a bird house :-)

[Richard in Smithville]

Thanks for listening and no the're not tears I hav something in my eye.

I must have had the same something in my eye. Keep the faith brother.

[LCHIEN]

...
With the wonder of technology, you can keep your hand in with your grandson. Get him a computer with Skype. Make him a "woods" toy. Make a short video, showing how it was made. Keep him supplied with age appropriate tools. . . .

Steve

That's a great idea!

[dbhost]

Not my own kids or grands, but we have a few nieces and nephews that have gotten the DIY, Woodworking, and auto mechanics bugs... Particularly my oldest BILs boy... He comes to the house and loves to help out in the wood shop. Built a pretty nice plywood and oak center console for a 1965 Chevy 1/2 ton short box they are working on... Gonna be fun when we get to the hickory bed strips...

[jeepman71]

Hey all thanks for the replys.

The Skype is a great idea. When my son was in Iraq he was able to use Skype and talk to my DIL and the rest of the family fairly often, pretty cool.

We got him a toy Cman bench with tools for his 3rd birthday, will have to upgrade to the real thing in a couple of years.

Jim

[os1kne]

Skype is a really great long-distance way for family to keep in touch. My wife and SIL have been using it for a few years, now the kids use it to keep in touch with cousins.

A great thing for kids in the shop or around a home repair project area is a cheap 3 ft. measuring tape. Kids are fascinated with them. My kids were grabbing mine every time I put it down. I saw some cheap plastic ones at HF for $.50/each and bought 6. Now, when I'm working around the house my 4 y.o. son will say "where's my little-guy tape measure?" Then he'll have a blast measuring everything in sight.

[jeepman71]

Now that's funny, it's good to know all kids are facinated with tape measures, my grandson grabs an old 12ft that I have.

Jim

[os1kne]

One "nice" feature (for kids) of the little cheap 3' tape measures is that the tape is narrow and not as stiff as most other tapes + spring that retracts the tape isn't very strong - so there's not as much risk of cutting fingers.

[jeepman71]

That is a good point. Little fingers do cut easily.