Teaching Woodworking to Youngsters

Anyone who’s ever used a blazingly sharp-toothed saw or chisel can attest: that’s the last place you want tiny little fingers… 

Or is it? 

“Just as legions of Americans in cities and suburbs have discovered the joys of working with their hands — building their own chicken coops or brewing artisanal vinegars — many are now encouraging their children to do the same, by giving them the opportunity to learn how to handle a hammer as well as they use an iPhone.”

In an era when shop class has been replaced by proficiency test prep groups, adults are teaching kids about the creative process, and how traditional handtools are instrumental to creating the things they use everyday, reports Julie Scelfo in the New York Times.

The article reports of workshops and classes around the country that teach kids proper sawing, hammering, gluing, and even some joinery techniques.

There is, of course, the problem of safety, but as Mr. Cohen of Beam Camp points out, “Tetherball is more dangerous than the shop.”

Kindergarten Shop Class [NYTimes.com]