Truscifi Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Babyman, who is 3 now so really not a baby, snuck into our room while his brother was supposed to be watching him this evening. He got one of his Christmas presents, a small bag of real tools made for kids. He then took a drawer from his under bed storage and took it apart. All the way. He unscrewed all the screws and put them in a little pile. I don't know what else he would have done, because that's when we caught him. We took the tools and put them away, and scolded him for going in our room without permission. Dh put the drawer back together. We talked to his brother about better caretaking and basically told him he's not ready for babysitting duty. But honestly, I can't decide whether I'm more aggravated that he got into a present early or impressed that he managed to fully dismantle the drawer without damaging it at 3 years old. Do you think it's too late to rethink the tools as a gift? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abba12 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 lol, I'd be rethinking it!!! Ok, I wouldn't be rethinking it, but I WOULD be making sure I had some wood, nails, and old furniture outside, and make clear the rule that the tools only get used on things outside. Otherwise, you'll wake up one morning to a pile of wood, and no tables or chairs. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Well at least you know it's a gift he's going to love and use. :lol: 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Since he has already discovered and demonstrated how well he can use them, then I would say it is too late. He will be bugging you the whole month to use the tools. However, if you do let him have them now, they should be put out of arms reach and brought out when asked, otherwise it sounds like you'll be discovering dismantled items wherever he goes. He is one smart cookie. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnwife Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Well, I may not be the best person to ask. But...I'd just make the tools a gift from DH and myself (versus being from Santa). As for taking things apart, isn't that one of the purposes of the tools? How as he to know any better if he hasn't had such things before? Disclaimer: All our kids (currently 5, 3, and 2 yo) have access to tools. In fact, we have a couple tree stumps we brought into the house solely for them to practice hammering nails, using screws and drills, etc...We have laid down rules about things it's okay to use their tools on and things it's not. When things go awry, the tools go away for a while. When my mom's rug shampooer died recently, she gave it to our kids. They were so excited to attack that thing with their tools. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 You are doomed......... Just saying........we survived kid #3 Mr Screwdriver. I can't even remember how many mops and outlets got disassembled. These days he is into computers instead of taking household items apart, but those were some tough years! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxinsox Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 LOL! I'd keep them in a special box for him, and use them for a supervised toy until he is old enough to use them responsibly. With that kind of talent, by the time he is 9 or 10, he will be your go-to person for assembling and disassembling furniture for moving. My 10 year old is miles better at this sort of thing than his dad--what takes my hubby hours takes my son minutes. Some kids just have an affinity for tools and knowing what to do. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 lol, I'd be rethinking it!!! Ok, I wouldn't be rethinking it, but I WOULD be making sure I had some wood, nails, and old furniture outside, and make clear the rule that the tools only get used on things outside. Otherwise, you'll wake up one morning to a pile of wood, and no tables or chairs. That is brilliant. I will definitely hit the thrift stores and find him an old dresser or something he can work on. We put them up until Christmas, but we told him they are for him so he knows he'll get them soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Ds took the stair railings all down at that age. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El... Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Well, I may not be the best person to ask. But...I'd just make the tools a gift from DH and myself (versus being from Santa). As for taking things apart, isn't that one of the purposes of the tools? How as he to know any better if he hasn't had such things before? Disclaimer: All our kids (currently 5, 3, and 2 yo) have access to tools. In fact, we have a couple tree stumps we brought into the house solely for them to practice hammering nails, using screws and drills, etc...We have laid down rules about things it's okay to use their tools on and things it's not. When things go awry, the tools go away for a while. When my mom's rug shampooer died recently, she gave it to our kids. They were so excited to attack that thing with their tools. This tree-stump idea is brilliant! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 my 3 yr old found an allen wrench recently (no idea where he found it) and proceeded to unscrew his sister's bed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I let my preschoolers hammer into an old stump--they love it. We start with a pumpkin and golf tees and "graduate" to the stump. I give them a pile of rubber bands to make a "geo-pumpkin" and "geo-stump!" I heard that old carburetors are really interesting to take apart. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooksandBoys Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I'm impressed, and I would definitely give them to him. He's clearly a kid who needs tools. Tell me where you found this tool set? I want to give my boys tools for Christmas this year, as well as random pieces of wood to practice on (love he tree stump idea!). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 This is the one I got him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 (edited) When Gemini was about that age, I attempted to fold the futon bottom of the bunk bed to find all of the bolts had been removed. Turns out he hadn't really been napping in a while. Edited November 29, 2015 by Desert Strawberry 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I never give a gift that will require direct supervision to avoid disaster. Yes, I'd rethink the tools and put them away for another year. I'd wait until impulse control is better (3 is usually the age where kids start cutting things randomly, too) and offer plenty of opportunities throughout the year to work with tools under someone else's control and supervision, like the Build & Grow clinics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 lol, I'd be rethinking it!!! Ok, I wouldn't be rethinking it, but I WOULD be making sure I had some wood, nails, and old furniture outside, and make clear the rule that the tools only get used on things outside. Otherwise, you'll wake up one morning to a pile of wood, and no tables or chairs. <3 this. I'd have a hard time not grinning at the kiddo in admiration. :D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) nm Edited December 4, 2015 by ^ 022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38carrots Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 <3 this. I'd have a hard time not grinning at the kiddo in admiration. :D I know, right? If you have space, I'd be getting him some used furniture for Chrismas from a thrift store to take apart and then put together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Find a local thrift store to get broken donations of small appliances. DS8 went through a BIG screwdriver phase. My favorite was the day I opened the bathroom door and it fell on me - he'd taken all of the screws out of the hinges! I tend to think as long as kids have a direction for their exploration, they're happy to keep it contained. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Once, in an attempt to keep two (older) visiting boys somewhat contained and occupied for a weekend, my father gave them a large car to take apart. It was an extremely successful strategy. OP, good luck!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 I just hope you don't have a bunk bed anywhere in the house. The kids' IKEA half-high bed once collapsed (Broccoli sleeps on slats under the bed, Celery on top - luckily this happened during the day and no one was harmed). So, for a moment, we thought "what on earth what a piece of crap". Until we noticed the missing bolts. We found a huge pile of bolts in the kids' closet... they'd taken out more than half of them. No wonder the bed collapsed. And they didn't use any tools to do it either. :( It's definitely time to start regularly inspecting furniture that might collapse, whether you give him the tools or not. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 I just hope you don't have a bunk bed anywhere in the house. The kids' IKEA half-high bed once collapsed (Broccoli sleeps on slats under the bed, Celery on top - luckily this happened during the day and no one was harmed). So, for a moment, we thought "what on earth what a piece of crap". Until we noticed the missing bolts. We found a huge pile of bolts in the kids' closet... they'd taken out more than half of them. No wonder the bed collapsed. And they didn't use any tools to do it either. :( It's definitely time to start regularly inspecting furniture that might collapse, whether you give him the tools or not. :ohmy: I had not thought of something like that. I will check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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