re: TIPS ... teaching young children

It is very important that a kids first experiences in the shop is fun. Kids don’t really know that woodworking skills aren’t as easy as they seem when dad or granddad is making something, so they usually expect to get good and quick results right away, and many of them will probably be discouraged and disappointed if they don’t.

In my opinion the best kind of tool to start the kids with is a scrollsaw. It’s fast, accurate and very easy to make stuff first time out. Kids learn it real fast and they love it. Some instruction and observation is important for safety’s sake and also to make sure they learn the right techniques. I started my grandsons using the scrolls without the pressure foot. A little challenging, but exciting! I taught them how to keep downward pressure on the workpiece and how to guide and spin it with the other hand to make turns and a lot of other tricks, but just one technique at a time to prevent mental overload. Once they mastered a technique we went to the next level.

My own grandkids made all their Christmas presents for their parent, siblings and other grandparents in a couple of sessions including their first try.