Kids & Tools

[burke1]

I was asking for a tool set by 13/14 years old. My parents got me a Craftsman 99/pc tool set and a 3 Drawer Craftsman chest ( I still have it). My brother was the same. We both had tools from 14 on.
I married a Woman (amazing she is) with 3 kids, 2 boys 1 girl. the boys are 18 & 15, neither one has a tool box! I just found that odd. The 18 year old has moved out, but I am wondering if I shouldn't get the 15 year old a box/set? He's a gamer so I'm not sure he would appreciate it..
Any thoughts?

 

[davesnothere]

Gamer? Dont bother.

 

[burke753]

I wouldn't unless he's into using tools. Or working on things. I mean unless he's building gaming computers. He probably won't ever find a use for any tools.


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[NordicSaab]

I'm not sure it would be worth the investment...

I'm 28 and I love tools, but most guys my age have no interest in doing anything with their hands other than snap chatting.

Also, I think being a "gamer" and a craftsman are very mutually exclusive.

 

[jim1987]

Yes I would go for it.

I've been a gamer since I was enough to hold the controller. Started on NES with super Mario. And progressed on to my halo 4 Xbox 360. Just picked up a free Xbox original off CL for free. Play about 2 hours a week now, sometimes mores.

Yet, I have a HF 56" stack filled pretty good because I'm not Paying someone to fix what I can.

My friend, has a 500hp cummins. Done all himself. Loves to play games.

Moral, don't stereotype.

 

[Haveblue]

You obviously have tools, so get him involved in some of your projects, start simple, talk tools, and see how he responds. You just might turn him on to something he really enjoys. Sometimes a child is intimidated by mechanical things if they don't have a teacher.

 

[displacementreplacement]

15 is a pretty good time to be fixing up that first car. Of course you need tools to change oil, do a brake job, change a tire, etc. If a car isn't in his future and he tinkers with computers or other elctronics, a quility electronics tool setup might get him interested. Another idea, pick up one of the bluetooth obd2 readers and get his help using it.

 

[Askme42]

Why not buy the 18 year old a decent socket set?

It was one of the first things I bought after I moved out.

 

[quattroJoe]

I started gaming at age four and asking for tools around five or six. Still gamed pretty regularly until a few years ago, still turning wrenches daily. I fail to see how two activities that both require many of the same qualities (hand-eye coordination, spatial skills, problem solving, etc) should be mutually exclusive. Maybe the 15 year old just hasn't been exposed, perhaps someone in his life could get him interested in wrenching.

And I agree, the 18 year old will be learning the value of a decent tool set in very short order. Anyone can make use of even a basic set for around the house when moving into their first place.

I'm still a fairly young guy, but I make a point of trying to impart some knowledge on younger kids (and sometimes adults) when possible. When the neighbor kid asks me to fix something on his bicycle, I show him what I'm doing so he'll know. Next time he asks I may just gift him one of my wrenches.

 

[byoungblood]

I was a gamer too when I was a kid, but I also liked working on cars. I got my first real set of tools when I was 12-13 years old I think. I had some fairly cheap tools that had been given to me prior just to keep me from using my dad's stuff so much.

I'm already putting a set of stuff together for my son, who just turned 3. Mainly because I'm afraid by the time he's old enough to use and appreciate them, there won't be anything but imports except for the higher end brands.

 

[Docman]

Depends on the kid. I have a cousin who just graduated high school and does nothing but play games. Some gaming is fine -- I still play plenty -- but in this case I quite literally mean nothing. Lazy *** won't lift a finger for anything, even his mother who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I feel like slapping the fool sometimes.

I think anyone who likes to tinker will come to appreciate a good set of tools. As a child I liked to take stuff apart for the hell of it. My neighbor at the time took notice and got me a set of craftsman pliers one year for my birthday. I still own and use them decades later, and more importantly I appreciate the thought behind that gift.

 

[Ohmthis]

I vote on yes, with a twist. Before buying try and see if there is something (a project) that the two of you could do. If he's a gamer think like him or ask his friends. Once you get him in the shop let him use the tools to build the project with your guidance. That will have him hooked. My little boy (5 and 3/4, don't you love kids) asks me 3 or 4 times a week to help him build something. I always ask him to make a drawing of what he wants to build. It's amazing what he comes up with. He has a 26" stack full of tools and welds (kinda) too. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[aaronrkelly]

When I started dating my wife I wasnt interested in tools or such. Her father bought me a fairly nice entry level of Crafstman tools - 3/8 and 1/4 inch sockets and a full set of wrenches. I still have them.....all of them. And while that one purchase didnt start me into tools.....I still valued them and kept them. Now that Im buying more and building my tools - they will always stay in my box.

I have a son who lives in the garage with me.....and my girlfriends son would rather set in front of an xbox.

I bought my son a basic box on sale and Im building him a decent set out of my leftovers and duplicates.....hes jazzed.

......other kid.....cant tell a wrench from a hammer.

Gamer.....I wouldnt bother.

 

[burke1]

I do think the 18 year old would appreciate it more than the 15 yo. I'll have to try it and see what happens.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I got my first tools (Craftsman 3/8" and 1/4" socket set) at age 15, after complaining that my Dad went to the cottage with every tool he owned. I really did not have a "usable" set until I was 18.

I bought my son some basic tools. He comes to my house to change his oil and do minor repairs on his car and motorcycle. When I am at his house, seeing neatly lined up screwdrivers and wrenches is just "un-natural" ! (He is approaching OCD. I am not)

BTW, I did the same for my daughter and son-in-law when they got married. A couple of years later, they were all "lost". After bitching about it for more than a year, they got "found". Or maybe I should just say relocated to a place where they could be found !

 

[Youngguns]

I wouldn't blow the 15 year old off completely because he's a gamer. Games are much more rampant than tools in this generation, so it's easier to get sucked into. Just think of a fun project to do, like building a go-kart or something, to get him interested. Do you really want to be the reason he calls someone else instead of doing it himself? At least give him the opportunity, I say. Either you hook him on becoming a self-sufficient man, or you get a bunch of new tools. It's really a win-win situation.

 

[bcradio]

When I started dating my wife I wasnt interested in tools or such. Her father bought me a fairly nice entry level of Crafstman tools - 3/8 and 1/4 inch sockets and a full set of wrenches. I still have them.....all of them. And while that one purchase didnt start me into tools.....I still valued them and kept them. Now that Im buying more and building my tools - they will always stay in my box.

I have a son who lives in the garage with me.....and my girlfriends son would rather set in front of an xbox.

I bought my son a basic box on sale and Im building him a decent set out of my leftovers and duplicates.....hes jazzed.

......other kid.....cant tell a wrench from a hammer.

Gamer.....I wouldnt bother.

 

[Filson]

View media item 39950
Took this back in April. 683 hours and 51 minutes of game play at the time, for this one game. And yet I work full-time twisting wrenches, have a 40x40' shop full of tools and projects, and enjoying spending time with my two boys and teaching them about tools, vises, etc.

View media item 33214
Gaming is just a hobby for many of us 'gamers', even those of us, like myself, that game heavily. I still enjoy doing all the other stuff in life, but once everyone in the house is asleep, it's game time. No one every died from prolonged 2-4 hours of sleep a night, right?

Spend some time with him, without being pushy. Get a project going that he finds interesting (repair a broken gaming system, bicycle, whatever) and get the spark started. Tools will naturally be appreciated after the spark of using one's hands has lit up.

 

[mrjaw14]

I've been interested in tools all my life. In fact when my dad was working on the family car when I was young and I'd try to "help" there would always be something that he'd put vice grips on and was vitally important for me to hold it in place (that frame member never did seem to move, but I held it anyway!)

If you give a modern day kid in our disposable society some tools they won't know what to do with it. I'd say get the boys involved when you're doing something around the house, in the shop, or maintenance on the vehicle if you do that and guage their aptitude and interest. let them use your tools (perfect excuse to buy an inexpensive basic "backup" or "loaner" set. then, and only then if they show an appreciation and interest in working with their hands would I look at getting them their own tools.

Some people are naturals with tools, others its just not their cup of tea. but to me part of being a real man and not a wussy metro man is learning how to maintain your home, possibly do basic things on a vehicle, and other tasks that even if you don't know how to do you can google or youtube some instructions with some basic hand tools.They will be more self sufficient, learn to think on their feet, and not freak out when things don't go exactly right. Not to mention the $$$ savings vs paying someone else to do it.

 

[Bigplum]

Does he show any interest ? Maybe get a mini bike that needs fixing?

I tried with my stepson though , many times and gave up , the last time I was taking the time to fix his bike , explaining how to set the gears , when I looked up , he was just looking the other way .

 

[kippieland]

You obviously have tools, so get him involved in some of your projects, start simple, talk tools, and see how he responds. You just might turn him on to something he really enjoys. Sometimes a child is intimidated by mechanical things if they don't have a teacher.

I agree! Let him take the lead. He will let tell if he is interested or not.

 

[foghorn1966]

To the OP, don't forget the stepdaughter in this scenario, she might be the most receptive about learning how to fix things.

 

[burke1]

To the OP, don't forget the stepdaughter in this scenario, she might be the most receptive about learning how to fix things.

I thought about that too, she may just like it to be doing something with me or mom.

 

[crewchief888]

To the OP, don't forget the stepdaughter in this scenario, she might be the most receptive about learning how to fix things.

I thought about that too, she may just like it to be doing something with me or mom.

i have 3 stepkids youngest (boy) is 20 now , older 2, both girls @ 22 & 23.

they werent with us full time, only the oldest lived with us for a while after she graduated HS. middle girl is a "princess" and would never get her hands dirty, youngest doesnt even have a drivers liscense, and shows no interest in much of anything.

the oldest (girl) has done the brakes on my '00 sierra (with some help and guidance) helped replacing brake lines/bleeding brakes, helped out with my s-10 blazer trail truck and actually laid down a couple of beads with a mig welder. i guess we taught her "enough" she moved 1200 miles and lives with a couple of friends, and is making it "on her own"

i really tried with my stepson, one saturday morning, i was patching my riding mower back together, while he was watching and fetching tools. as hard as he tried, he had no idea what any tool was, what it was or, or how to use it.
unfortunately he wasnt here long, (before running back to his dads house), for either of us to try to "reconnect" with him.

 

[rockinacummins]

Nah don't even try it. You'll find yourself wishing you had used that money to buy yourself tools and trying to figure out what he did with this and where he lost that. Like stated before, include him in projects, teach him, and if he catches on and take interest, then buy him tools. But for now, just get him socks.

 

[Fretters]

I tried with my stepson though , many times and gave up , the last time I was taking the time to fix his bike , explaining how to set the gears , when I looked up , he was just looking the other way .

That sounds like my eldest lad. To top things off, his reply to everything is generally: "I know", which really is the bit which makes one tempted to wrap the current tool in use around his head when he's actually paying no attention whatsoever and doesn't have the faintest clue. 20 years old he is now, and has never had the faintest inclination or clue. Buying him any tools would have been a complete waste of time and money.

The youngest, on the other hand, completely different, (and he already knows that the use of the phrase "I know" is banned ). 11 years old, so attention can obviously wander on occasion, but is far more adept and seems to have a genuine interest. I'm slowly helping him build up a tool collection though rather than just dumping one on him. A tool earned is far better than a shedload just given, IMHO. Makes them appreciate them more, and also allows them to build up a collection they want, rather than just being given some random assortment they may never need half of.

The OP definitely needs to gauge the young 'uns level of interest or aptitude before just giving them any tools. Giving someone a tool won't make them handy or interested if they're naturally not, or if they're just clueless with anything of this ilk.

 

[52Ford]

To the OP, don't forget the stepdaughter in this scenario, she might be the most receptive about learning how to fix things.

My 12 year old daughter is very interested in all things mechanical. Whenever she was with me at work and the Mac Tools truck showed up, she was right there with me, picking out the tools she needs for working on her bicycles and her 4-wheeler.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Most young kids are gamers these days. I know I was! But once I turned 16 and was given my first car (89 Bonneville 220k miles) I couldn't afford to pay a mechanic do I learned to do repairs myself. That's when my parents realized I needed tools and started getting them as my birthday and Christmas presents. I love to tinker!

 

[RedRabbit]

Well I'm not a dad, im more of a kid. Im 15, but I have been playing with tools since I could hold them. When I was 7-8 I made my Mom buy me a B&D Carpentry guide that my dad read to me every night. Then with my grandparents; one is a general contractor type person and the other a great mechanic, I started to build a lot of things and graduated to more and different tools with each use. Now they are both giving me their tools since the general contractor one is in a wheelchair and the mechanic has a bad back. But the mechanic one offered to fill up a toolbox that I brought in to restore with his tools, I declined because I felt it wasn't time yet, and he still does brake jobs with my help and I wanted the tools to stay there. But everyday I think about tools and projects and other stuff like that.

But my brother can't tell a drill from a crowbar from a ratchet. He knows absolutely nothing about tools, or his car and if I try to teach him, he says it doesn't matter he could pay someone to do it. When I helped him move to his apartment I brought some tools to assemble things, screwdrivers, a hammer, and an old 14.4 V Makita with bits in case I get tired of using a screwdriver. It turns out his desk had no holes in it and he told me to put holes in it and put on the legs while he watched T.V. and talked to his roommate. So I worked lining everything up and drilling carefully so I don,t go all the way through. I offered to leave him the tools I brought, but he said if he needs something I would come down, we live three h away with minor traffic, 5 with heavy traffic.

So you might want to ask your 15 year old if he wants to help you change brake pads or something pretty simple and if he enjoys it, you should buy an older craftsman three drawer box on CL, restore it with him, fill it with tools, and give it to him.
And BTW I play video games in the summer a bit too.