Introducing children to woodworking and teaching them the different tools necessary to build not only builds things of beauty, but builds character as well. Children are fast learners and they pick up on things adults do quickly. The basics of introducing woodworking tools to children can best be done by making the projects fun. Starting off with small projects like bird houses and window planter boxes can teach the children which tools they need to complete the job.
The most important part of the introduction of woodworking is safety around the shop. It is always best to start the child off on the right foot by only letting them only use manual hand tools. The concepts run parallel to hand power tools, but it is better and safer for the child to learn slowly as they learn the purpose of the tool. Slow as it may be, the child will learn how to best use the tool in question by using it by the adult showing them. The adult is there to show how it is done safely and efficiently.
Hand tools that are manually used by the children, teach the basics of measure twice and cut once. Teaching a child how to use a tape measure and a quick square to build a project will follow them all through life. Once they have mastered these tools, the woodworking of projects should move along much faster. Woodworking teaches the children mathematics along with some algebra and trig thrown in. Though children want to jump straight into a project, they have to do the math first to establish a layout of the project.
Moving the children through the woodworking process in steps allows them to become familiar with the hand tools and teaches them how to use them safely. Teaching them about safety glasses and ear plugs to protect their hearing are some of these steps that children do not understand sometimes. It is up to the adult to stress these issues on safety around a woodworking shop. Sure manual woodworking hand tools do not make noise, but there will be the occasional splinter and saw dust in the eye from time to time.
For any child that takes and interest in woodworking, there should also be an adult to help them along in their quest to learn. Children take great pride in their accomplishments and the excitement of showing their project to someone other than the teacher that helped them. It is what keeps the interest alive and it is the project that the child finishes, that helps in the learning process of woodworking.The more projects children take on in the future, the better woodworker they will become.