| If you are a grandparent or parent of a | | | | and biceps. The hammer really should be |
| midsize member of the next generation, you | | | | matched to the size of the nail anyway, so be |
| probably are being offered "help" each time | | | | sure to provide boxes of smaller sized |
| you pick up a tool to begin some home repair | | | | nails. And how about those cute little |
| project. We believe it requires a great | | | | locking pliers that are only inches long? You |
| quantity as well as a loving quality of | | | | could add whatever tools seem to be needed |
| patience to deal with the little helper. But | | | | and used. Just keep on with that patience you |
| if you say, "Well, thanks, I could use a | | | | developed when they were five or six. They |
| little help," you might find that you as well | | | | will make mistakes, but you did, too, and |
| as the child will benefit.If the kid is | | | | still do, once in a while.But don't make the |
| really too young to sustain any real | | | | mistake of buying too many tools all at once. |
| interest, just give him/her a piece of | | | | It tends to overwhelm them and they really |
| plywood to pound on with your smallest | | | | should learn the use of them one at a time. |
| hammer. If the little carpenter is able to | | | | There is another great big mistake to avoid. |
| swing the hammer and can understand that | | | | I don't say this just because our website, |
| nothing is really being accomplished, then | | | | toolhill.com, sells tools. Please don't buy |
| screw a chunk of a 2 x 4 to the plywood and | | | | cheap tools because they are "just to learn |
| start a few roofing nails in it. Roofing | | | | on." The learning will be more skillful when |
| nails are the ones with an extra large head | | | | it comes through practice with well-balanced |
| that is hard to miss.Now, we hope, s/he is | | | | tools of good quality and design. BUY THE |
| happily pounding the nails into the 2 x 4. | | | | BEST YOU CAN AFFORD AND INSIST THEY TAKE |
| But you aren't off the hook; not by a long | | | | PROPER CARE OF THEIR TOOLS.If you can |
| shot. You had better oversee it and | | | | tolerate such good help for a few years, your |
| demonstrate the speed and accuracy of the | | | | payoff will be a youngster who is becoming |
| hammer swings. A six-year-old has more | | | | confident in his/her skills and more |
| enthusiasm than ability, and if he tires or | | | | proficient than you realize. One spring day |
| tries too hard, he is likely to smash a | | | | she will surprise you by saying, "Dad, if you |
| finger or worse. Explain the virtue of | | | | remember to pick up some new spline for the |
| careful practice that allows his/her | | | | screendoor, we can get that fixed tomorrow |
| carpentry skills to develop gradually. Then | | | | morning." (Enjoy it while she is 12, because |
| remember not to leave him alone with any | | | | when she is 15, she will elect to sleep all |
| tools.This quality time with your little ones | | | | Saturday morning.)But remember, when she is |
| needn't take a long time. They just want to | | | | in her own apartment after college, she will |
| be with you and be helpful. After the | | | | deal quite capably with many of those little |
| practice session, they may be content to hand | | | | problems that the other girls call Dad about. |
| you nails one at a time, or count your | | | | You will be so proud.But, you are proud of |
| screwdrivers, or go tell Mommy what you are | | | | all your kids and their various abilities and |
| going to fix.The biggest concern with | | | | interests. If they don't cherish their tools |
| children of any age and their proximity to | | | | as you do and if they show little talent or |
| tools is the potential for misuse. Not only | | | | interest in your home repairs, don't beat |
| can they hurt themselves (or you, if they | | | | yourself up over it. Pay close attention to |
| hand you a hammer when your back is turned,) | | | | their ideas, then promote one of their |
| but they can really do a number on the new | | | | interests and share in those experiences, and |
| pane of glass you just picked up at your | | | | love them for who they are.Dr. Foltz is a |
| local hardware store. Can you imagine the | | | | retired teacher now enjoying the fascinating |
| creative scratches your biggest Phillips | | | | world of tools. Her husband Dick thrives on |
| screwdriver could put on the solid oak front | | | | being so immersed in one of his favorite |
| door of which you are so proud? The rule | | | | subjects. There are literally thousands of |
| developing here is that the little helpers | | | | types and brands of tools, so she will be |
| MAY NOT TOUCH ANY TOOL until you tell them | | | | happily learning about tools for the rest of |
| they may. If you give them full attention and | | | | her life. Her mission in establishing |
| play fair about letting them really help a | | | | |
| little, they will soon accept the | | | | the website is to foster an increase in |
| rules.Let's imagine the little darlings at | | | | both knowhow and confidence in the use of |
| nine or ten yars old. It may be time to | | | | tools among their women visitors and |
| present them on the next few Christmases and | | | | customers. In her spare time, she writes |
| birthdays with a new tool box and a | | | | self-help books for folks wanting to write |
| smaller-than-standard version of several | | | | their personal and their family |
| common tools. You have seen those lighter | | | | stories.Richard and Sharon Foltz are writers |
| weight hammers. They don't drive a nail in as | | | | and administrators for ToolHill.com, which |
| quickly as your big heavyduty hammer, but | | | | specializes in the latest information about |
| they are more easily used by smaller hands | | | | power tools and other types of tools. |