Jun. 2, 2009 - Raising Engineers
There is one thing that we have done for years, that I realized others may not have thought about before.
Having 4 sons (and 3 curious daughters as well) I know how much kids love to investigate and dissect things. One thing we started way back when our oldest was about 6 was to give them any appliance or electrical "thingy" that had died to completely take apart and investigate. Usually around their 6th or 7th birthday, we give boys their own real toolbox with REAL tools and even their own cordless drill.
When anything around the house comes up that needs to be fixed, I call the boys and they get to use their own tools with daddy's direction or sometimes Aslan's if he's mastered it. They help me put things on the wall, tighten loose door knobs, put on a drawer knob or anything.
Another great use for their tools is to take things apart as I mentioned. They have dissected old printers, computer towers, tv sets, microwaves, toasters, stereos, telephones and, most recently, an old record player. They learn so much from this, and have so much fun too. When they have all adequately destroyed investigated the appliance, it goes in the trash can.
I have even bought cheap appliances for a few dollars at yard sales that we didn't need for them to disassemble.
So the next time an appliance or anything with a screw in it dies, get out the tools and let your boys at it! They will have so much fun...and who knows what it will lead to.....a future engineer? mechanic?
It's a small price to pay.
Comments
Jun. 4, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by thornbunch
This is what my oldest loved to do. My dad was our supplier of broken electrical devices. It all started with an old telephone. Eventually, all the kids had an opportunity to take apart whatever Grandpa could find. I'm sure Truvis' ability to take apart computers and rebuild them now started with that old telephone my dad gave him many years ago. :-)
Jun. 5, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Eunice
So true!
