Child Safety in the Shop

[e-tek]

I was reading the workbench thread when I came upon this comment from Davestloius:

Looking at these benches makes me want to scream. I'm jealous of you guys. First, my garage looks like a bomb went off in there, second, I have a kiddo with autism who gets into EVERYTHING, so I can't leave any tools out "on display" if you will, they all have to be locked up, out of sight or he'll hurt himself or burn the house down. I even have to keep the Armor All under lock and key or he'll spray his bike down with it, and the floor gets so slippery that I fall. I shudder to think what he could do with a vise...

SO I had to reply:
OMG Davestloius!!! I have the SAME kid!!!!!!!
I couldn't stop laughing 'cause it was so true! Last week my kid DID grab the Amour-All and sprayed it in a fan right across: my Challenger nearing paint (worst thing for paint), my freshly waxed Galaxie and the tollbox. I freaked, then cried, then washed it all down. He has his own (plastic) tool kit, but always has to grab the largest screwdriver I own and swing it around menacingly. His first words were: "don't touch the 'vertible' (convertible)" because I said it so many times when he was in the shop - I felt terrible.

So while it's unlikely many of you have kids with Autism or something, you may certainly have kids and therefore you probably have ways to keep them safe and busy in the shop.

I leave you with his thought: If my wife says I'm wathcing the kids, that means they are watching me - in the shop!

 

[e-tek]

OK, I had to post this photo for this thread too...
On the one hand it's a nice pic of teaching a young gun to weld, then someone pointed out all the flammable materials on the bench!! Yikes - it certianly is a lesson in what NOT to weld around!

 

[daddylama]

my 2 year old daughter often says "WORK IN GARAGE!"... she loves hanging out there with me.
i've given her a set of tools (a few of which were my first tools, given to me when i was 2 by my grandpa). real tools, albeit dulled with decades of use. she knows the difference between phillips and flat head, can name half the tools in my box, and is absolutely pissed when she has to leave the garage when i'm welding. i figure i can probably start teaching her when she's around 5 or so. not positive on that part... i didn't start learning until i was 8 (oxy fuel, still my favorite process)

the garage definitely isn't "child-proof"... but with proper supervision, i feel it's a better environment to learn in than something overly childish. she understands that some things are "owie!" and (hopefully) will become more aware of her surroundings and actions than if she spent her formidable years playing only with toys.
i grew up working along side my grandpa, and to this day am eternally grateful for that life shaping time he spent teaching me. i promised him and myself, that my kids would be given the same opportunity. plus once she gets more skilled, it's free labor!

 

[Bud_Man]

While not needing “Child proof” garage any longer. I need to dog proof my garage. I have three who feel it’s a better time with me in the garage than in the yard. Any suggestions, other than keep them out of the antifreeze?

Hey this may make for a good sticky!

 

[tdkkart]

I have the SAME kid!!!!!!!

Hell, I WAS that kid

Family story about how I wrapped my diaper up in a drill motor before I was even able to walk.

Got a new pair of Bibs in the mail once, put them on and ran out to show Dad my new duds, stepped right in a big pan of gasoline(yep, used for washing parts) as I rounded the door into the shop.

Why I wasn't in the shop the day Dad lit the place on fire while installing an aluminum Old's 215 in his CJ3 nobody knows. Dad spent a few days in the hospital for that one, and scared the **** out of me when he came home covered in gauze and Silvadene cream. I can still see Dad in the yard talking with the fireman with his arms wrapped in wet towels.

As for my own daughter, she had a playpen in the garage when she was real small, and later just played outside. My highspeed cutoff wheel became known as the "ERRR-tool" while I was back-halving a Mustang.

All my efforts were in vain, today she's 20 years old and has no interest whatsoever in mechanical stuff, although she does at least know enough to call Dad when the car acts up.

 

[Bojans]

My wife and I got a puppy a few years ago and went out of town for the weekend. Our pup stayed with my dad and was by his side the whole time, even when he was working on the tractor. She (a 6 month old Beagle) would keep taking tools and going over to lay down on a towel and chew on a wrench - dad thought it was cute but aggravating. A bit later he realized he was missing half a dozen small to medium size nuts and washers, looks all around the towel the dog had been laying on and all around the area and found nothing. A trip to animal emergency and $200 later showed there was no metal in her gut. Fast forward nearly 3 year and when doing a very good cleaning of the garage he finds the $200 nuts and washers under a cabinet.

 

[chad pickens]

My 3 yr old daughter used to love to be in the garage .Last year she rode her bike and little electric four wheeler and just hung out .She even went on a very short ride down the road on my harley.Now all of a sudden this year she is scared to death of the harley.She wont even come in the garage. she even ran out of a friend of mines garage when she saw his bike.This ***** because we had alot of fun in the garage

 

[jr2]

Longtime lurker.

My kids have been in the shop.. well.. since they were NEW! I've had a second playpen in the shop for my kids since they were new. Also have "their" area where their tools and toys are. They are 21m & 4yrs now. My daughter knows what most of my tools are and where they are. She also knows not to play with daddy's things. My son is just now learning the names of most things in the shop. They have their own workbench with some things I have created for the them to "work on" to keep them occupied in their area.They are allowed to ride toys in the empty bay,sometimes. It serves as a great place to get out of the rain.

Now don't go thinkin I have them in there when I am doing anything to harm them in anyway. Momma covers for me in those situations. I've got my flammables and other harmful items where the can't easily access them in a metal flammables cabinet. Dangerous tool are in closed cabinets and they just learn that they are not to play with them. Yes it's a constant learning curve but thats the way it is. They have seen me use them and know it's a daddy tool. I teach my kids right and wrong but I don't hide things from them so as to peak their interest of something that is rarely seen by them.

I have pens, pencils, crayons and tablets for them to draw/color on Daddy's tall table.

My kids are my life. I want them to learn mechanical skills as well as gain knowledge in life. I work with so many people anymore that don't know how to do anything. I want my kids to be able to stand on their own if they need to. I learned from my Dad by being by his side and him taking the time to teach me skills I use everyday.

 

[64merc]

All of these posts have me a little teary-eyed. I have a 13 month old boy and I can't wait to teach him stuff and have him help dada.

 

[e-tek]

JR2 - very cute!!
I didn't know how this thread would go, but with these postings it's a beauty!

My older boy LOVES the tools and the shop but he's a handful to watch so that he (a) doesn't get hurt, (b) doesn't hurt anyone else, and (c) doesn't hurt my cars!
My younger one just sits on the recliner and watches TreeHouse all morning while I do my thing - I'm hoping he gains an interest soon.

Sometimes they both get into it!

 

[jr2]

I try to keep my kids away form the TV set if at all possible. We have a movie night on Friday nights but most of the other time we spend in the shop or doing things "with" the kids. I grew up with too many kids whose parents plopped them in front of the TV. I don't want to do that to my kids. I will always accommodate them being around me even if its hard for me. Their only kids once!

 

[Chris 50]

My wife and I have a little girl due in July, and I'm looking forward to having her with me in the garage the same way. Eventually she may find that it's not her thing, but as long as it's fun for her, I think she might learn things that even go beyond mechanical. My Dad isn't very handy, but I will always cherish the car shows and Sat. night stock car races he took me to.

 

[e-tek]

I try to keep my kids away form the TV set if at all possible. We have a movie night on Friday nights but most of the other time we spend in the shop or doing things "with" the kids. I grew up with too many kids whose parents plopped them in front of the TV. I don't wanna to that to my kids. I will always accommodate them being around me even if its hard for me. Their only kids once!

Don't preach - it's a garage site, not a holier than thou site! I just got back from 4 yr old soccer and tomorrow is 6 yr old horse-back lessons. If they want to watch cartoons Saturday morning while I'm getting stuff done it's OK with me - as you said: they're only kids once!

 

[jay50]

All my kids (2 boys, 1 girl) grew up in my shop. They learned basic maintenace and all advanced to the more difficult items (water pumps, timing belts, intakes, etc). That was a requirement before they got their first cars....and yes they did all their own maintenance. I did help my 17 year old daughter install a ****** one time...

They are out on their own now but always have thanked me for the lessons of idependance they were taught in the shop.

 

[edl]

I'll chime in - I have a 7, 4 and 2 yr old - the oldest is a girl...not much interest in the shop - the younger 2 are boys - here are some thoughts:

- i keep all flammables in a steel cabinet under lock and key

- i never let them in without me...period

- i flip off breaker switches for the lift, band saw, drill press, etc.

- put power tools high...they won't be out of reach for ever, but i'd rather introduce them to the tools and not have them just "explore"

- they have their tools - HFT sells a kids set that is just awesome - it is $10, has a real hammer (small), tool belt, folding ruler, helmet, googles, leather gloves, etc.

- i keep lots of scrap wood around...them seem to love to bang on the wood...and with me, screw screws in and out and bang a few nails

- i guess the number one safety measure i have is my time and attention - if i am with them and either involve them in my work or take time out to do their "work"...all is good - if i try to do my own thing assuming they will amuse themselves, the first thing that happens is my 2 year old takes out a screwdriver and starts "fixing" my cars by gouging and scraping it all over the paint...from their things can only get worse.

- my goal is not necessarily to have them self-sufficient mechanically, but just to be together and find something we all enjoy together.

FWIW

thx, ED

 

[dcjredline]

Usually when my daughter is in there with me (Shes 5) she will help me for about 20 minuted then either wants to hammer something like a piece of 2x4 or saw it with a key hole saw. Then I have to sit and watch her. I have taught her all the safety to using a saw so dont worry. Also with the hammer I make sure I reiterate that she NOT hammer the cars under ANY circumstances whatsoever.

She has helped me do the 12 and 15k maintenance on my Caliber, install a remote starter on her moms car, check the brakes on my Formula, and helps me check and fill tires on the cars monthly. Along with easy things like washing and waxing the cars too.

 

[Dave88LX]

This thread is awesome.

I don't have kids yet but I definitely plan on raising them around cars/toys/"the garage".

A couple things I learned growing up:
Make sure you keep your little propane/mapp gas torches out of reach...it's fun to put capacitors in a vice and blow them up.

A grinder is not the proper tool to polish chrome.

If your kids want to hammer away, give them their own wood/hammer/nails. Dad didn't appreciate me putting 100 nails into his railroad tie retaining wall along the driveway.

 

[Silver Bullet]

My daughters (7 + 3) love to "work" with me in the garage. I'm usually OK with it until they start swinging stuff around. I figure any day they're going to put a nice dent in my bike's gas tank. Last winter my 7 year old was working with me in the shop and I really wasn't paying attention to what she was doing. She tells me her throat hurts. I look around and see that she had found one of my expired pepper spray canisters and sprayed her toy "just like daddy was doing" (I was using some WD40 at the time). I felt so bad for her. Her throat was buring all night. Now I make sure to give away the expired stuff and keep it out of the garage. She did learn a lesson though - now she asks first before touching ANYTHING in the garage.

 

[Mr. Welsh]

Pepper spray? What's that in the shop for?

 

[dcjredline]

Thats a big thing for me and my daughter. I tell her there is dangerous stuff in the garage and she cant touch things without asking. So far so good. Only time will tell.

 

[jr2]

Don't preach - it's a garage site, not a holier than thou site! I just got back from 4 yr old soccer and tomorrow is 6 yr old horse-back lessons. If they want to watch cartoons Saturday morning while I'm getting stuff done it's OK with me - as you said: they're only kids once!

I didn't say we didn't own TV's (3- 32", 37", 47") and I don't keep the kids in a closet. We just try to not to make life revolve around the TV. And I ain't "Preachin" brotha let me tell ya x2 37" TV, Satellite, Computer, Internet in the shop

 

[tubeman]

It didn't sound to me like you were preaching at all!

 

[jr2]

It didn't sound to me like you were preaching at all!

Well.. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't.

 

[jay50]

I didn't say we didn't own TV's (3- 32", 37", 47") and I don't keep the kids in a closet. We just try to not to make life revolve around the TV. And I ain't "Preachin" brotha let me tell ya x2 37" TV, Satellite, Computer, Internet in the shop

I see the "Free beer" sticker on the frig; you're alright in my book...

 

[Silver Bullet]

Pepper spray? What's that in the shop for?

Yeah I know. I carry it at work and when it expires I get a new one and bring the old one home to give to my wife/friends/etc. For some dumb reason I had one on my bench that I had forgotten about.

 

[e-tek]

Well.. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't.

I guess you weren't preaching - it just read like you where. I'll try not to be so sensitive!

To all you guys with little girls - it would be nice to be able to tell a boy only once, or to get a boy to sit and color - or sit at all!!

Actually today the 4 yr old asked if he could help me as I was unloading a new Challenger Hood from my roofrack. It was cute so I let him hold the rope that I used to tie it to the cart. He pulled it all the way to the shop, then said: can I help you put it on the car now?? If it didin't weigh a hundred pounds and maybe if he was 14, not 4.....soon enough I guess!

 

[66HertzClone]

My son loves to come out an do projects with me in the garage. I'm often working on my Mustang when he is out there with me. Last Saturday he told me he wanted to work on his Jeep. So we jacked it up so he could tighten some loose bolts (his diagnosis) he knew were loose.