When I was a kid, I thought I could do anything. Now that I have 2 daughters that think they can do anything, I realize how scary it is for parents to let their kids do some things. Like use power tools.
Adults can hurt themselves using power tools and heavy machinery, and so can kids. But don’t forget that kids are smarter than you realize. If you show them how to use something properly and explain the dangers, you’d be surprised how quickly they can pick it up and how careful they are.
Example? One of my daughters is 7 and I already have her on the sanding machine. She saw me using it, asked if I could show her how, and then was ready to use it right away. No lie, I showed her how to use it once and she understood and could use it on her own. She’s more careful using it than I am! And, I had to explain it to her uncle 3 times before he was ready to use it on his own!
So when exactly is it safe to start showing kids how to use power tools and machinery? When they ask.
It’s sort of like what that turtle says in Finding Nemo when asked when kids are ready to do stuff on their own; the turtle answered: “You never really know, but when they know, you’ll know. You know?”
2 years old might be too young, but waiting until your kids are teenagers is probably waiting too long. I’ve seen a little 4 year old use a nail gun properly, and I’ve seen a grown man mess up using a staple gun. So wait until your kids show interest, and then show them how to use power tools and machinery properly.
If your kid is asking and you think they’re too young, don’t forget that they’ll probably do what I did as a kid: Find the tool when my parents weren’t around and start messing around with it on my own, never having had instructions.
Give your kid instructions at the age they start being interested.
Simple as that.
Do you have a question about tools, maintenance, cars, contractors or other blue collar stuff? Leave it in the comments section and I might answer it in an upcoming post!
Photo Credits: Wikimedia and Janet English.
