Ds9 wants to build something 'real'. Help!

[JenneinCA]

Ds9 wants to build something real. He wants wood and a hammer and nails. He wants to make something useful. I don't have any clue what to do with this. Does someone have an idea of a website with project ideas and equipment list? Or a book? Or something?

 

He is adamantly not interested in building with Legos, knex or any other kid toy. He wants to do something real.

 

(And if it is as self teaching as possible that would be great. I am trying to write lesson plans and enjoy my summer break. Break does not include learning woodworking or banging nails to me.)

[Snickerdoodle]

Birdhouse?

[sagira]

We have a DVD called "Measure Twice, Cut Long" that explains all about building a treehouse, narrated by a 16-year-old. Detailed and interesting, it's definitely right up your son's alley. My ds (6) wants to build real things too. So far held back by inexperience, immaturity and lack of knowledge and experience by dh. We have no suitable tree in our yard, the video shows you how to pick a good location for your treehouse too.

[hornblower]

this summer ds 12 is going to make projects from here:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wildlife/ndblinds/index.htm#contents

[cougarmom4]

You could try some PVC pipe projects. There is cutting involved, but perhaps an adult could help ds cut the pieces out and then he could assemble them on his own. Here is a website with some free plans for projects (http://www.pvcworkshop.com/freePVCplans.htm). You could also just have a whole bunch of different sizes and have him build & take apart...

[MomsintheGarden]

My ds made this years ago:

http://www.hearthsong.com/product.asp?section_id=2004&department=1202&search_type=category&search_value=3203&cm_val=&cm_pos=&cur_index=&cm_type=bandept&pcode=162

 

I bought it on sale, so it's worth checking back if you're interested in it. He had fun making it, and we still have it. Hearthsong used to have a shelf kit. That was fun but it came out a bit lopsided for my dd

 

There are probably a lot of ideas on the internet. Unfortunately the best thing for you to do would be to find someone to mentor him who has skills, tools, and time.

 

HTH,

GardenMom

[Guest Alte Veste Academy]

DS7 is developing a woodworking hobby. He uses real hand tools, no power tools (will move up to that and will have DH supervise in a few years). Here are the best books we own:

 

Steve Caney's Ultimate Building Book (full of stuff to build and science/history about all kinds of different things)

 

Woodshop for Kids (big section on safety!)

 

Woodworking (super section on the benefits of using different kind of woods and wood in general)

 

Snowball Launchers, Giant Pumpkin Growers, and Other Cool Contraptions (some ideas for some cool stuff a ten year old might want to make :D)

 

Tree Houses and Other Cool Stuff (OK, this is still on our wish list but I will get it and I really, really, really want to build the cannon!)

 

ETA: If your ds9 reads well on his own, he should have no trouble with the projects in the first three books, at least.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Alte Veste Academy

[duckens]

1)Find a kit for a birdhouse.

 

2)Try this kit to make three projects ($39.95). Does he have a birthday coming up? :

 

http://www.toystogrowon.com/sku371

 

3)Or this kit, from the same company ($29.95):

 

http://www.toystogrowon.com/sku866

 

4)Is there a Loews near you? Sometimes they have woodworking projects for kids on Saturday mornings. Dd is too young to participate in them so far, but maybe someone else has had experience with the Loews "Build and Grow Clinics." Allegedly, they are FREE!

 

https://lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx

 

Let us know what works!

[joannqn]

Both Home Depot and Lowes have/had free woodworking classes/activities for kids...usually on Saturday morning. They provide all of the needed supplies for the crafts, however, I found it was nice for my kids to have their own basic tool kit. Some were toys (ie. wood fire engine) and some were useful (ie. baseball bat holder). My kids did them for about a year. I felt that the Home Depot projects where better quality than Lowes.

[CathyinNC]

I second the Home Depot and Lowes idea. They have great programs. Also, Webelos Cub Scouts have a Craftsman activity badge that invovles making useful projects out of different materials, including wood. If you search Cub Scout Craftsman project ideas, you get a ton of hits with age appropriate projects.

 

Here's one:

http://www.stilesdesigns.com/toolbox.html

 

Good luck and have fun!

[SilverMoon]

Most hardware stores like Lowe's and Home Depot have kits you can buy for building bird houses and such.

 

The Boy Scout merit badge books are also great starting points. Many libraries carry the whole set. They can be bought here ~ http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/default.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&C2=BOOKS_LIT&C3=MB_PAMPHLET&C4=&LV=3

[eternalknot]

My nine year old had a similar request last year :)

 

He solicited wood scraps from our area and came up with some useful (and some not-so-useful!) projects: bat house, a border for his sister's garden, small trellis, nesting box for birds, picture frames, sign for his grandparents' yard (like the one on M*A*S*H), and a catapult.

 

Among his unsuccessful projects were a wooden boat (guess who didn't use waterproof glue LOL), a picture frame with mitered corners, and an outdoor cathouse.

 

He gets his inspirations just from his own individual needs, but also from flipping through craft books his sister picks up at the library. She usually asks him to make stuff for her :)

[Scotia]

You might want to check out some of the projects these guys work on.

 

http://www.tinkeringschool.com/

 

It happens to be located right up the road from you. My niece has attended this for years and always has a fabulous experience, building all kinds of things since she was 8. Warning though, if you are interested in attending, it gets booked up fast. Otherwise it is quite inspiring to see what kids can do given a very small bit of guidance and tool safety instruction.

 

Gever's book "Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do)" is also a fun resource and got him an invitation to the TED Conference (Look for Gever Tulley).

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Do you have a Home Depot or a Lowe's near you? Both offer kid classes (usually on Saturdays). Each class is about three hours long. They do a different project each class session. They supply the wood, tools, etc, and a teacher to guide them through the process.