Entertaining Kids in Garage While Wrenching

[BronCowie]

My nephews visiting on a hot summer day (~95* outside), like to get in the driver's seat, throw a dog in there and the fun continues.

 

[BronCowie]

And when they get a little older, turn 'em loose with the wrenches. This is a pic of my daughter and best friend, 8th graders. I was prepping to pull my engine back in 2007. I broke the exhaust manifold bolts loose and then they raced to see who could get their side apart first. It was truly great fun! ;D

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

I've got 2 boys, 3 and 4 years old. I let them take turns helping me wrench and when they get bored with that, they love to pretend to drive the Bronco. Just make sure the horn is unhooked haha

They held wrenches while putting my family cage in, nice to have the help

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[77Bronco636]

Kids are great at polishing wheels, bumpers, anything shinny (I use to polish the wheels and long headers on my dads street rod when I was a kid, kept me busy, I couldn’t mess anything up, my dad got to work on stuff, and we were hanging out together.....

As stated above...PVC pipe fittings and a bunch of PVC pipe cut to different lengths will keep kids using their imagination and building things for hours....I have a 5 gallon bucket full in the garage....works great and easy clean up too....

And as also stated above...shop vac works too!

Have fun!!!

 

[theshadow]

So many great ideas, and wonderful to hear how we as dads find creative ways to include the next generation. Our kids will be all the better for it. Here's to us!

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[blubuckaroo]

My grandpa was a school maintenance man. He always had broken equipment around. Stuff like record players, fans, and office equipment. He would sit me at the work bench, with some tools, and tell me to take it apart to find out what was wrong with it.
He knew full well that the stuff couldn't be fixed. I like to think he was using this as a learning tool, but really it probably just kept me out of his hair.

 

[theshadow]

My grandpa was a school maintenance man. He always had broken equipment around. Stuff like record players, fans, and office equipment. He would sit me at the work bench, with some tools, and tell me to take it apart to find out what was wrong with it.

He knew full well that the stuff couldn't be fixed. I like to think he was using this as a learning tool, but really it probably just kept me out of his hair.

Smart man

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[Eoth]

Scrap wood, box of nails, and a drawer of hammers.

 

[theshadow]

Was pretty proud of my little dude today, he figured out all on his own that a loose screw was causing the play kitchen faucet to move back and forth.

Of course, tiny maintenance was the "person" who figured it out

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[NCSUWoj]

I have a friend who gave his 5 year old some tools and some old body parts to play with. One day he was sitting in the house and kept hearing his son banging on stuff outside. After about 15 minutes he went outside and found his son “working” on his new truck with a ball peen hammer....looked like it had been in a hail storm.

My biggest fear!! but at the same time, at least they were out and entertaining themselves! lol

 

[NCSUWoj]

Kids are great at polishing wheels, bumpers, anything shinny (I use to polish the wheels and long headers on my dads street rod when I was a kid, kept me busy, I couldn’t mess anything up, my dad got to work on stuff, and we were hanging out together.....

As stated above...PVC pipe fittings and a bunch of PVC pipe cut to different lengths will keep kids using their imagination and building things for hours....I have a 5 gallon bucket full in the garage....works great and easy clean up too....

And as also stated above...shop vac works too!

Have fun!!!

I am going to round up all my PVC fittings and stuff for the next time we are in the shop. Thats a great idea! Same will plenty of nuts and bolts to size up and put together.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

If I recall, I was raised going to swap meets as soon as I could walk. I could spot fenders from 100 feet out, had a better angle on the parts on the ground. Swap meets really got me involved in the hobby and love for classic cars.

As far as helping in the shop, I think I was the flash light guy, terrible job for a kid, frustrating for both people, but hey I didnt turn out too bad. Addicted to broncos and classic trucks.

Getting your kid hooked (whether a good "addiction" or not, you decide) early on will help with their willingness to wrench. I got hooked on running hot wheels and retractable car toys that you pull back and let them wind up. Car nut from day 1

Power wheels or rc cars can also help get them to love "driving" which will lead to involvement. They make a bronco power wheels! Buy one and have them assemble their own bronco? Walmart had them for $150 if you can find it

 

[svastano]

If you have room for it in the garage, Get a swing from a swing set and use some I bolts to attach it to the ceiling. They can swing.... I did that in my basement years ago and my girls had a ball.