Woodworking for children
Woodworking or beginner carpentry skills may seem like an old-fashioned hobby or pastime, but I assure you there are many benefits to introducing woodworking for children.
My children were introduced to beginning woodworking very young, through our local 4H program.
Our club had an amazing mentor who truly loved woodworking and sharing it with local children.
My children were blessed to work with this teen who was a great mentor for them, not only in woodworking but also in life.
We would wake up super early on Saturday mornings just to go to his workshop and learn. I tell you, getting my children to wake up early has always been a huge challenge for me. However, on our woodworking Saturdays, they flew out of bed excited and eager to learn.
My oldest son, now an adult, still loves woodworking and is considering turning it into a career down the road.
I don’t think my children understood at all just how educational woodworking was for them.
Not only did they learn how to identify hand and power tools, but they also learned how they worked.
They learned the safety precautions that are involved in using tools of all types.
MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE
This turned into a saying that took on so much more significance than just a quote for working with wood.
I often used it as a basis for forming my own quote:
Think twice, act once.
Turning something that brought them such joy into a gentle reminder for their daily actions often proved quite helpful.
Other benefits of woodworking for children
Through woodworking, children develop fine and gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Children also learn mathematical skills such as size, shape, geometry, measurement, engineering skills, and creativity.
Woodworking also teaches youth perseverance and focus. Children also gain self-confidence and experience pride in a job well done.
Jobs involving woodworking
There are so many different fields that rely on woodworking skills.
The obvious one that first comes to mind is carpentry, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Other jobs in the woodworking field are:
- Cabinet makers
- Furniture builders
- Game/puzzle designers
- Musical instrument makers
- General contractors
- Stair and rail installer
- Picture framer
- Craft artist
- Jewelers
- Restoring antiques
- Machine setters and operators
- Shipbuilder
- Propmaker and stagehand
- Roofer
- Teacher
- Playground constructor
If a child falls in love with woodworking, their chance of turning it into a future profitable career is extremely high.
Woodworkers are in high demand and very sought after.
Great beginner projects
You may be wondering what some simple ways to begin introducing your child to woodworking may be.
My favorite beginner projects are string art(which focuses on using a hammer and nails), simple birdhouses, basic toolboxes, signs, and stock cars.
Most Home Depot stores also offer a simple project each month for children. Check out your local hardware or home improvement stores to see if any offer classes, or workshops, or projects for children.
Even though woodworking is one of the oldest trades and hobbies around, its relevance today is just as prominent as ever.
Woodworking for children is educational and can introduce them to a rewarding hobby, or a profitable career.
Do you or someone you know love woodworking?
