2009 Canadian Home Workshop Show
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KIDS IN THE WORKSHOP — TIPS ON MAKING IT A SAFE AND FUN EXPERIENCE
Toronto, ON (January 14, 2009) — Bringing kids into the workshop is a great way to develop their fine motor skills, nurture their creativity and spend quality time with a parent. However, having kids around 'a high power' environment can be very unnerving for parents.
Master Craftsman and Canadian Home Workshop magazine contributing editor, Ryan Shervill loves the time he spends with his six year old daughter Emily in the workshop. Below are his tips for parents on how to make it a safe, enjoyable and fun experience:
Perfection Is Not The Goal
There can sometimes be a tendency for parents to want to jump in on a child's project and make it just a little bit better. "Remember, improvement of skills will come with practice, says Shervill. It's 100% about the time you spend with the child. I don't care if my daughter Emily's box is crooked, or the birdhouse has 50 screws protruding from it like a porcupine, my only concern is that she enjoys her time in the shop with me as much as I enjoy the time with her."
Explain Dangers — Don't Scare
Your child's safety is the main concern. The best way to educate kids in the workshop is to lead by example. If you are being cautious, explain to them exactly why you are doing so. Explain the dangers, but don't scare them. "You will be at arms length anyway should they enter a dangerous situation, so there's no advantage to instilling fear says Shervill. Don't push a child too far outside their comfort zone when trying new things."
Builder Boxes
In order to keep kids both busy and safe in the shop, Ryan suggests putting together 'builder boxes.' Each box contains a picture of the project and precut wood parts with the fastener holes predrilled for easy assembly. "It's a great way to tailor a project to the child, a small child may not have the coordination to effectively use a screwdriver, but every kid can swing a hammer!"
Tell/Show/Help/Watch
Ryan has a set of steps that he likes to follow: Tell-Show-Help-Watch. "First I 'Tell' them how to do something, then I 'Show' them how to do the task, then I 'Help' them do it, and finally I stand by and 'Watch' them do it solo."
Listen to Child
Let the child feel as though they are part of the process. Kids spend most of their lives being told what to do, so when it comes to the shop treat them as equals and let them know that their input is important.
It's the Journey That Counts
The important thing is to make it fun! Be sure to praise the child. If they know you are proud of them, they are more likely to stay interested. "Children's woodworking shouldn't be about making it 'perfect' it should be all about the enjoyment of the craft — it's the journey that counts, not the destination," says Shervill.
The Canadian Home Workshop Show takes place Friday, February 27 — Sunday March 1, 2009 at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON. It is the largest show of its kind in Canada and the only one-stop shop to find everything that's new in innovative tools at great prices.
For further public information, please call 416-218-3545 or visit the show website at http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/show
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Media Contact:
Ruby Fruitman/Sonya Luchetta
Fruitman Communications Group
Ph: 905.780-0880 (cell on site: 416.230.4991)
ruby@rfcg.ca
