Garage rules for kids..

[TAMPAGT07]

Even though Lil' T is only 20 months old, I've already started thinking about future garage rules for the little guy... Does your youngsters have their own tools (Or use yours)? Are you always working wih them, or do you trust them alone with your tools, toys, etc? What age (approx) did you give them the run of the place?

 

[PugetDude]

Even though Lil' T is only 20 months old, I've already started thinking about future garage rules for the little guy... Does your youngsters have their own tools (Or use yours)? Are you always working wih them, or do you trust them alone with your tools, toys, etc? What age (approx) did you give them the run of the place?

I trust my four year old grandson around my tools more than my 54 year old brother.

 

[My Old Tools]

Even though Lil' T is only 20 months old, I've already started thinking about future garage rules for the little guy... Does your youngsters have their own tools (Or use yours)? Are you always working wih them, or do you trust them alone with your tools, toys, etc? What age (approx) did you give them the run of the place?

Pinups of Pebbles Flintstone?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Tampa's first thread outside of FP, mark your calendars gentlemen.

 

[PugetDude]

Tampa's first thread outside of FP, mark your calendars gentlemen.

Only a small % of the GJ will see it...

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Tampa's first thread outside of FP, mark your calendars gentlemen.

Not true... You only have to go back six months....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287599

 

[jasonz]

We definitely laid down some rules for my boys, in both my shop and my father-in-law's shop. I believe my boys were around 3 or 4 when we talked about it... and anytime they are around tools or machinery, we always have a safety talk. It's really about making them aware of their surroundings and self-aware of where their limbs are located. It seems thats the hardest thing for kids to grasp at this age and even into their pre-teens.

On a side note, I think this is a great to teach these things to kids... develops not only skills to work with their hands, but think ahead about what you're doing, on top of developing self-confidence as well... don't be afraid of the shop machines/tools, but have a healthy respect for them. I really want to inspire my boys so that they know that they can accomplish anything in life.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I trust my four year old grandson around my tools more than my 54 year old brother.

QFT even though it's my three year old son and my 34 year old brother.

No set rules yet, just lots of discussions about safety in the garage.

-Brian

 

[larry_g]

Once a child is old enough to not be hand in hand with the adult then safety glasses are the first rule. Then it is a determination that is made for each individual person. Some at 5 years old can be trusted and some at 20yo cannot. You have to set the rules for your shop and what they can do. My shop with old non OSHA approved tools is much more dangerous that ones shop who's most dangerous thing is a hatchet or exacto knife.

One other rule is no tools leave the shop without me. You bring the broken thing to the shop to use tools on it or I go with the tools to do the fix. I put that in place after realizing the cost of all the tools I left laying around the farm as a kid.

lg
no neat sigline

 

[rlitman]

We definitely laid down some rules for my boys, in both my shop and my father-in-law's shop. I believe my boys were around 3 or 4 when we talked about it... and anytime they are around tools or machinery, we always have a safety talk. It's really about making them aware of their surroundings and self-aware of where their limbs are located. It seems thats the hardest thing for kids to grasp at this age and even into their pre-teens.

On a side note, I think this is a great to teach these things to kids... develops not only skills to work with their hands, but think ahead about what you're doing, on top of developing self-confidence as well... don't be afraid of the shop machines/tools, but have a healthy respect for them. I really want to inspire my boys so that they know that they can accomplish anything in life.

+1

Since they could walk, my children understood that they could not enter the garage (2 door, zero car garage; i.e. shop) without getting permission. They don't even come in to talk to me without first asking if they can enter. But at the same time, they understand that so long as someone is in there, the answer will almost always be yes (because you never want them to become obsessed with Daddy's forbidden garage of mystery...).

Child sized hearing protection (not just used in the shop) is right by the entrance. My older one has a small drawer for his tools (a pair of socket rails and some stuff), with two pairs of child sized safety glasses kept right there. If they want to watch something, I will always figure out a way to safely accommodate a little observer, and for their part, they know to patiently wait and never distract someone using a power tool.

The first power tool I started them on was the scroll saw. I set it up with a foot pedal on/off control, so I have a dead-man switch while working with them. And I've had the big one make some small holes in wood on the drill press.

They absolutely LOVE every second they get to do work in the shop, and have been extremely respectful of the tools, and for my part, I do all I can to keep it that way.

 

[XS29L9B]

Even though Lil' T is only 20 months old, I've already started thinking about future garage rules for the little guy... Does your youngsters have their own tools (Or use yours)? Are you always working wih them, or do you trust them alone with your tools, toys, etc? What age (approx) did you give them the run of the place?

Best thing I ever shared with my kids, were that cars are "hot" and DON"T TOUCH. It worked, as they respected that.

But I also kept them out of the garage We had a shed (like another garage, w/ roll-up door built, where they could keep bikes, etc. away from the cars.

 

[Firebird326HO]

My son is 4 and knows that he has to have gloves, safety glasses, real shoes (no flip flops) and hearing protection. He loves putting on all the gear and understands why each one is needed. I found giving him specific tasks keeps his interest for longer so he doesn't start playing around and running. I also make a point to make sure I'm following my own rules!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NJHandyGuy]

Samarra and Shyann both have their own toolboxes they know there's is there's and daddy's is locked

 

[NJHandyGuy]

They also aren't allowed to work on anything unsupervised

 

[zmotorsports]

I started letting my son play with a junk carburetor if memory serves around the 3~ish year mark. I gave him a couple of tools and he put that thing together and took it apart so many times I lost count. He slowly started moving up in what tools I would allow him to use.

He was in high school before I would say I gave him free run of the place. Even now (24 years old) he asks before using the lathe, mill or welding equipment and always asks if it is ok before putting one of his vehicles on the lift. Although I think that is more out or respect and to make sure I don't have someone elses vehicle coming in. He has a full set of tools but he still asks before using mine. Again, I just think that is more out of respect than anything. Great kid, but they need to learn early the rules of the shop.

Mike.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I have two granddaughters who love to be in the garage when I am out there. They are 8 and 10. I have tons of tools and boxes and they know right where to get a screw driver or pliers when needed. And where to put them back. I have no rules except stay away from the lift, otherwise have fun.

 

[dr_clyde]

My dad always pretty much gave me blanket permission after I took shop class in middle school. The only rules I remember was I had to wear shoes, I wasn't supposed to take tools out of the shop, and I wasn't allowed to use the oxy-acetylene or welders until high school.

Looking back he probably should've been more strict, I got into plenty of trouble in my dad's shop. But I'm alive and with all of my digits so that's something.

If I decide to have kids, I would probably insist on at least having my supervision until around 14 or so. Even then probably no machine tools until I feel confident they're not going to lop a finger off or something.

 

[fsae0607]

My son is 16 months old and walking. He already knows "no" and listens. I'm starting now so he knows shop safety!

I can't wait until he's old enough to help me!

 

[justanengineer]

I suspect you'll find you need more rules than your kids do.

My folks never really had a rule for us kids about hand tools beyond returning them and not mistreating them, as a consequence I grew up helping on many of my father's projects. By the late single-digits I had free run of Dad's woodshop and could run every power tool and machine unattended, not sure why but I loved turning baseball bats and giant novelty golf tees. I believe I was ~10 when I rebuilt and tested my first engine (a Kohler) unattended when my folks weren't home. By my early teen years I was working on/off in local shops, hucking/stacking lumber in the family sawmill, and during a few years of high school my folks spent more time at project houses 200+ miles away than home but I never quit working on my own projects.

 

[raddksn]

We definitely laid down some rules for my boys, in both my shop and my father-in-law's shop. I believe my boys were around 3 or 4 when we talked about it... and anytime they are around tools or machinery, we always have a safety talk. It's really about making them aware of their surroundings and self-aware of where their limbs are located. It seems thats the hardest thing for kids to grasp at this age and even into their pre-teens.

On a side note, I think this is a great to teach these things to kids... develops not only skills to work with their hands, but think ahead about what you're doing, on top of developing self-confidence as well... don't be afraid of the shop machines/tools, but have a healthy respect for them. I really want to inspire my boys so that they know that they can accomplish anything in life.

Good advice!!!

 

[raddksn]

+1

Since they could walk, my children understood that they could not enter the garage (2 door, zero car garage; i.e. shop) without getting permission. They don't even come in to talk to me without first asking if they can enter. But at the same time, they understand that so long as someone is in there, the answer will almost always be yes (because you never want them to become obsessed with Daddy's forbidden garage of mystery...).

Child sized hearing protection (not just used in the shop) is right by the entrance. My older one has a small drawer for his tools (a pair of socket rails and some stuff), with two pairs of child sized safety glasses kept right there. If they want to watch something, I will always figure out a way to safely accommodate a little observer, and for their part, they know to patiently wait and never distract someone using a power tool.

The first power tool I started them on was the scroll saw. I set it up with a foot pedal on/off control, so I have a dead-man switch while working with them. And I've had the big one make some small holes in wood on the drill press.

They absolutely LOVE every second they get to do work in the shop, and have been extremely respectful of the tools, and for my part, I do all I can to keep it that way.

This is exactly what my dad did with me some 45 years ago or so

 

[Marcm157]

My 19 year old son is banned from my shop when I am not there. I found too many of my tools either rusting in the grass, or laying loose on the floor of his truck. He had multiple chances to earn shop privileges back but never seemed to be able to put anything back after using it.

He has no real interest in learning anything mechanical anyway. My 15 year old daughter however loves wrenching on anything with me and has a decent knowledge of tools and a fair mechanical ability.

She will sometimes go and do her homework in the shop because she tells me she loves he way a garage smells! She is not allowed to work on anything unsupervised.

 

[kv501]

I trust my four year old grandson around my tools more than my 54 year old brother.

QFT even though it's my three year old son and my 34 year old brother.

No set rules yet, just lots of discussions about safety in the garage.

-Brian

Double QFT, 8 year old son and 32 year old brother. My kid's not a gear head but he likes to help and asks questions. And he also knows his *** is grass if he loses tools or uses a ratchet for a hammer, etc. My bro on the other hand, not so much.

I let him use my tools once when I wasn't home to mount some saddle bags on his motorcycle. When he was done he put the three sockets back on my Hansen tray business side up, which made them just tall enough to snap the pegs off when he shut the drawer. And then didn't say anything about it. And put every single tool he used in the same drawer so I had to go searching. Key got moved after that.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Start him out with recoiless air tools like this guy.

When I was a kid my dads workshop was locked, and we weren't allowed in the workshop unless he was in there to watch us. Other than that, I was helping my dad fix stuff since I was big enough to see over the workbench while standing on the Anvil.

Chris

 

[holdover]

two grand kids 4 & 8. They love being in the garage (40X60) but only enter after asking to make sure nothing is going on that can hurt them. They are not allowed in the garage alone, but are welcome with supervision. They are both car guys and my 4 yr old has adopted my '29 Model A PU as his, the 8 yr old takes credit for the '29 Model A coupe , which he helped restore last year. I let the 8 yr old be more active and he has his own gloves and goggles for protection when needed. The 8 yr old started showing an interest with mechanical stuff when he was about 3, at that time I was working on a '65 Mustang FB and he was all over it, the 4 yr old is just starting to take an interest. The 8 yr old helped me restore a '82 CJ7 last year and I told him when he turned 8 he could drive it around the farm, August was his birthday and now he drives it at least once a week. My son is a car guy also and started driving the farm tractor when he was 8 yrs old. Really enjoy watching them develope mechanically, just like their daddy did. They both know that safety comes first.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

My two daughters are 3.5 and 1.5. The most dangerous thing I discovered within their reach was spray chemicals and stuff like that. So I moved them up high now in an enclosed cabinet.

My oldest also likes to climb up my shop stool, so she can use my carpenter's pencil and draw on my workbench. The most dangerous part of that is tipping back on the concrete floor. Those are the two biggest ones in my garage. But I'm always keeping an eye on her.

 

[3798j]

Here's my youngest grand daughter displaying the "look..don't touch" rule. The grand children enjoy hanging out with their grand dad in the garage.

 

[moltentungsten]

Watch this guy build a boat with the help of his grandson:

 

[rieferman]

My 3rd grade daughter must have her hair in a bun, and No necklaces or other jewelry when in the shop with me. Also I don't allow hoodie sweatshirts to have the draw string at our house. Those types of thing are too easily tangled in a drill press or any other spinning motor. Real shoes, hearing and eye protection, ask first. Both her and her 4th grade brother love being out there with me.

 

[Cyberbear]

Not a problem in my shop. Our rule is no small children in the shop at any time...period. Adults by invitation only, and they cannot touch anything they are unable to pay for when they damage it. Ignorance is never an excuse, if you don't know what you are doing, don't do it!

 

[finn]

Safety is the main, and only rule.

2 of my 3 boys (all adults now) were interested in the tools and garage, but the 3rd showed no interest whatsoever.

That's ok.. Don't be disappointed if they have other interests, and don't push them into some activity just because you like doing it.

You can't control their interests.

 

[PugetDude]

Not a problem in my shop. Our rule is no small children in the shop at any time...period. Adults by invitation only, and they cannot touch anything they are unable to pay for when they damage it. Ignorance is never an excuse, if you don't know what you are doing, don't do it!

I'm sure this work out best for everyone.

 

[chruler]

Regardless of age, I always speak with everyone before coming to the shop. We're working in there and an inexperienced person can cause a lot of mayhem without knowing it.

As others have mentioned, the "safety talk" is a must!

 

[Wood'nMetal]

My kids only have one rule when working with Dad: "There's no crying when you're wearing Carhartts!"

They all abide by this rule even today, my oldest is 26!

 

[whitetrash1]

I really don't have any rules for the garage. My son is never out there by himself but it's more of a don't run out in the street reason. He's too young to really grasp it all but he did show interest in using my drill this past week so we have been letting him run a few screws into a spare plank.

Edit: I have been trying to train everyone to bring me a beer when they come out there. I don't have my kegorator set up yet in this house lol

 

[51cub]

All good stuff. In the end, it's your decision, you know the kids, not me. I think that as long as they understand why they're wearing PPE, and that stop means STOP NOW!!, and I'll explain why as soon as the danger has passed, the only way is up. For myself, I think now how I would have liked to been able to start earlier, rather than hearing, " you're too young". I can't take credit for this part, I saw it on another forum. Once they start showing an interest, and aptitude, buy them an empty toolbox. Every year at Christmas, birthday, anniversary of the first time you were in the shop together, whatever, get a new tool, use it, learn it, and learn to start TAKING CARE OF YOUR TOOLS NOW, and add it to the box. Years down the road, when they're showing their grand young-uns............