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Woodworkingfor Kids.....isnot just woodworking
Kids need Hands On activities. Many like me, most engineers, woodworkers, electricians, mechanics and designers can’t think without it. But in the last couple decades, with competition from computers, videos, video games, smartphones, school cutbacks, and emphasis on academics, hands on activities get short shift. Not that long ago Newsweek(July 19, 2010) had an article on the decline in creativity of young children because of too much internet, computers, video and not enough hands-on problem solving.
For many kids there is no better hands on activity than woodworking. First and foremost woodworking teaches kids that is people who actually make things. And if people in general make things, then perhaps they can too. Children learn to use tools which leads to the empowering idea that if you want something which you can’t find, buy, or afford, then you can build it. Woodworking teaches the various parts of a project are connected; you can’t alter one without affecting the other. Kids learn things can be modified or fixed. Woodworking teaches the beginnings of design.
Woodworking helps a child work on what they need to know: Kids in a hurry learn to slow down, those who want teacher approval for everything learn to be more independent, those who think they can’t build anything learn they can, and those who think they know all about building learn they don’t. Woodworking helps teach kids that adults, sometimes, do actually know something; it helps them listen. Amazingly, this all happens in just a few classes, almost like magic. Kids see the results of their decisions almost immediately (no tests involved) and without an adult having to say much, if anything.
Not that long ago every high school, middle school and many elementary schools offered woodworking. Not any more. So its left to parents, grandparents and isolated outposts of Boys and Girls clubs, park departments, churches, daycares, and private schools to teach woodworking.
Every year I start woodworking with a new group of kids I think,“maybe this year they won’t be interested; maybe this year there is just too much competition from electronic gadgets.” And every year, I’m amazed and surprised, again, that kids still like woodworking. Actually, they LOVE it. For kids, there is just some magic about taking a few tools, some wood and creating a project. And its the most interesting, fun, and meaningful woodworking I’ve done.
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