Starting Off Young Kids In The Garage

My oldest son turns 4 in July. I'm trying to think of ways to get him in the garage an started off right working with me. He already has his own 1/4" ratchet, plus some screwdrivers and hammers. But I was thinking of ways to get him into wrenching. Here are my ideas so far:

Tool Box Matching Game - label the tool box drawers with tool names/pictures, then have him retrieve or put back tools. I'll hand him a socket and say "okay, what drawer does it go in and what is it?"

Disassembly! - He and I will take apart the old blown 2.3L from my Ranger and see how it works. I'll provide the muscle but he picks the bolts. We name the parts along the way.

Circuits - I was thinking of those old 50-in-1 kits kind of thing. Just a bunch of wire, batteries, motors and lights. Connect them together and see what happens...or what makes smoke!

Home Depot giant erector set - get a bunch of nuts/bolts/washers and metal pieces and let him put them together how he wants. Maybe throw some casters or wheels in the mix.

That's all I have for now. How did you folks get your kids into the garage? My only reason so far for not getting him out there with me is I'm worried about not being able to watch him while I'm laying under a car. But he's showing more restraint now and this may be the time to get him involved.

In reply to slefain:

I did the 50-in-1 electronics thing with my daughter and I was surprised by how easy/fun it was for her. I definitely recommend that.

I've also had her assist me with a few auto projects (brake pad change, brake fluid change, subwoofer installation...) but I don't think she got much out of it. I'm the same way, though. I never really learned much unless I had no choice but to learn it , or miss class/work the next morning.

My 10 y/o son and my 6 y/o daughter took apart my front caliper/pads and bled the brakes with me after school today. This included gathering tools, a lesson in why we use jackstands and how to change a tire complete with how to tighten lug nuts in the correct pattern and why.

Oh, I also taught him what a body hammer and dolly are for since he asked while I was looking for paint. Bringing them to the auto parts store is a good idea because there are so many neat looking tools and parts in there. They're bound to pick up something that catches thier eye.

How about something like a modification on his bike--something he will immediately see the payoff of.

Parts cleaning, for parts that don't need harsh chemicals. My daughter had/has a thing about cleaning stuff. Its a good "instant gratification" activity because you see and improvement in the condition of the part and you can take the opportunity to teach more about what that part is, how it attaches to the car, etc.

Find dead bicycle on side of road, restore it into his first ride. Make him use the tools.

Get a GT6 and have the kid to crawl under the dashboard to pull all the transmission bolts.

My dad made me do the exact thing... twice. As I recall, I was ten at the time.

My dad would also show me cool things. Showed me how to put out a carburetor fire on his Chevy. I was pretty scared but I stood ready with an oil soaked rag.

He once gave me all eight used spark plugs from his Buick. The spark plug thing was probably a joke but I thought I had most of the parts to build my own car.

Your son will look up to you as a mentor. Show him cool stuff. Also, try color coding the common tools. When you ask for a 9/16 wrench, it would be helpful to say the color. Kids don't know fractions and it's frustrating for the child to search through the whole tool box looking for a wrench with nine and sixteen written on it.

My kid at 3 helping to assembly an oil/coolant drain tank.

http://youtu.be/KNFNcErfXHE

My dad gave me a 4x4 block and had me drive nails in it until no wood showed anymore... That was good practice well valued now.

I was big into RC cars as a child. My step dad helped me strip them down and paint them. Then I'd wash them wax them and build bumpers for them so I wouldn't wreck them. I converted my first truck to full Posi trac at age 10 with JB weld after stripping a gear.

I didn't start any real heavy wrenching until I was 15 and my stepdad and I built me a drag car (also my first car and speeding ticket) I've grown up from him pointing at the next bolt to turn but if I'm laying under a car in a pool of my own blood and still can't get it... I call him.

It took some real faith to give a 15 year old a set of slicks and 400 hp and say light em up or die trying.

I definantly got my start off of RCs and tractors farming. The drive to be around dad is strong at a young age but the seriousness of a shop/garage doesn't kick in until girls and cars. Just remember to be patient... That's why my dad never taught me any gearhead stuff. He would just fix his cars and be like, if it ever breaks down take it to me... my step dad was like, if I die tomorrow you need to be able to keep your family in a vehicle.

I'm curious if starting kids off that young really gives them any meaningful gains?

Typically, in my mind, I'd suggest letting kids be kids at that age. And I am by far and away a very anti-safety person (I'd rather people think smart than just dumb-proof everything), but I can't imagine many kids below the age of 7-8 being very adept at most mechanical things. There are of course exceptions.

As someone mentioned, RC cars are a GREAT stepping stool. They are appropriately sized for a kid.

I never really turned wrenches until I was 18 and decided to rebuild my buick 231...

HiTempguy wrote: I'm curious if starting kids off that young really gives them any meaningful gains? Typically, in my mind, I'd suggest letting kids be kids at that age. And I am by far and away a very anti-safety person (I'd rather people think smart than just dumb-proof everything), but I can't imagine many kids below the age of 7-8 being very adept at most mechanical things. There are of course exceptions. As someone mentioned, RC cars are a GREAT stepping stool. They are appropriately sized for a kid.

I think they get a lot out of it... Especially if you give them something small and simple, help guide them along but let them do most of then work... It builds problems solving skills... The most important thing is that it builds a bond between you two..

My son has been helping me change tires at autocross events and at home since he was 4...

My 9 year old has the electronics set and I've gifted him some tools that I don't use much. I actually need to ask to use his stuff about once a week lately. This has worked really well because he is now much better about asking me for my tools when he needs them. If something breaks, he gets it to take apart. Recently he took apart our old printer and had a blast. I'm about to unleash him on the old dead push mower and see what he finds.

My son turned 4 in January. We've started building the pvc roll cage for his ride on toy. I have him help with car stuff when it's safe to do so. He cranked the spare tire up to its spot under the van, which I was impressed with. I let him operate the jack up until it gets resistance.

He has his own tool box with plastic toys that he enjoys using. In my opinion, he's still a little young, so the attention span to helping daddy is limited. If he's actively involved, he'll stay engaged, but he's not quite at that point of holding tools and getting tools for dad yet. I don't want to push anything as I want him to enjoy it.

The 50 n 1 thing seems like a good idea.

Yesterday provided an opportunity for my son to try air tools. At 4 he's barely strong enough to pull the trigger on the air gun, look at him put all his weight into pulling the trigger. http://youtu.be/YlciKPFCU_4

Maroon92 wrote: I never really turned wrenches until I was 18 and decided to rebuild my buick 231...

Yeah I didn't really start turning wrenches until I was 16. My dad is not much of DIY'er. I did work in the garden with my parents from a young age though.

In reply to 93EXCivic: Me either. Didn't start until after college. Oddly my dad raced cars in his younger years, but never showed my brother and I around car repair and he always brought our cars to a pro. He did take us to the races though.

My dad always made me hold the flashlight while he was tinkering on his truck.

Wait, isn't that a song?

mazdeuce wrote: My 9 year old has the electronics set and I've gifted him some tools that I don't use much. I actually need to ask to use his stuff about once a week lately. This has worked really well because he is now much better about asking me for my tools when he needs them. If something breaks, he gets it to take apart. Recently he took apart our old printer and had a blast. I'm about to unleash him on the old dead push mower and see what he finds.

That's key. When I was a kid I LOVED taking stuff apart and seeing how it worked, and even trying to build my own stuff out of the parts. I'm lucky that my parents noticed this and gave me all the broken stuff that got replaced in the house. It's kind of like legos, but WAY cooler.

Get some old fashioned tinkertoys. Sit down and teach your child how to build things with them, and how to play with them. With our technological wonder toys today, many kids are actually lost with something so basic as tinkertoys.

Expand into lincoln logs and basic lego blocks. Build, create. Don't just assemble a Star Wars lego kit, make something yourself from the blocks.

You want to work in the garage with them? Do similar. Make it fun and doable for them. Checking tire pressure, installing lug nuts, etc. If they don't have fun, they won't do it. Don't expect too much from them either. They are only so big, and only so strong, and have no concept of shop safety.

When I was a little kid my dad used to give me a bowl of MEK or gasoline and a brush to clean parts.

You probably want to avoid that.

disclaimer: I'm not a parent .... that said wouldn't it work out well to just let him/her know that they are welcome to join you when you're in the garage working on the car(s) ... and not push them into it ... just let them know to come on in ...

wbjones wrote: disclaimer: I'm not a parent .... that said wouldn't it work out well to just let him/her know that they are welcome to join you when you're in the garage working on the car(s) ... and not push them into it ... just let them know to come on in ...

They are around you constantly. They'll know their boundaries. Some times you have to expressly invite them to help(if they want). It's not so much pushing them to do it, but letting them know it's ok at this particular time. My son knows that he shouldn't be near the car while daddy is working on it, unless daddy expressly says he should be closer. I've very lucky that my son is respectful of those limits. He's the kind of kid that when the baby gate was mistakenly open at the stairs, he'd shut it. Never gets near the stove etc. For me, you can tell if they are interested because they are watching you do it, and sometimes asking questions. If they are off rolling around in a pile of leaves, they might not care. Things he helps me with now. I have him stand back where I can see him, and he tells me when the car is on place on the ramps. He hands me the lug nuts, and I have him count them. If you have something that is always there job, it works out pretty well.

I'm "middle aged" and just started learning how to work on cars a few years back. Still very much a novice. My two sons love cars and want to drive. I encourage them to come out in the garage with me and work on the cars, but I don't "push" them to do it. They always know they're welcome and I offer for them to come help, but if they don't want to, that's fine. They have other things they like too, such as riding their bike, etc...

I bought a yerf dog type go cart a few months ago, which needs some basic work...new tires, new throttle cable, etc...that has gotten the boys interested in turning wrenches. I had them remove the old wheels this weekend, and they helped me attach the new throttle cable. They were happy to help, because they know that once it's done, they get to drive. Now if only daddy can figure out how to adjust the stinkin' throttle cable so that it actually does something when you hit the gas....