Getting your kids into D.I.Y.

Most of us would prefer if our kids were busy with a craft or gardening project instead of being glued to a television or computer screen.

But how do you encourage your kids to get into D.I.Y. and build their skills, interest and confidence?

Obviously the key is to make it fun.

In the discussion below, please share your tips and strategies you've successfully used to get kids excited about making their own creations and growing their own plants.

It would also be great to hear about projects that kids love to do.

Jason

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Isobel

I find kids absolutely love planting seeds and watching them grow. Succulents are also great. You can also buy little terracotta pots really cheaply and get the kids to decorate and/or paint them.

Mick

I reckon a good old fashioned cubby house is a brilliant project to get the kids into D.I.Y. Get them involved right from the start, creating plans and salvaging materials, then introduce them to the tools.

Kermit

A billy cart is another classic project...

timjeffries

My boys love the garden, especially my oldest son Tuscan. I can't pull my boots on without offers of help. 🙂 I think the key was getting them involved really young. Letting them play in the dirt as I worked while they were babies. Getting them picking fruit for themselves. Planting seeds with them and watching them grow. Letting them water the garden despite the significant waste that inevitably occurs.

Here's the proof. 😉

Dale

I find that if you can relate the DIY project to stuff they like, then you'll have no problems in getting them involved.

At the moment I've got my boys interested in building skate ramps and stuff. They love going to the skate park and this is something they can do related to that when they're home that keeps them off the electronics.

I've got them currently researching on YouTube how to make skate boards themselves. Might have a go at making a long board.

Andy_Mann

I'm a classic case of a kid being allowed to have a go, & although it was 60 years ago, it's still a fond memory.
As a bit of background, I was a born gentleman, I let my twin sitter have first dibs & as a consequence, I was tiny. I mean, tiiiiiny.
I loved being the littlie, it gave the extra urge (though I was never pushy) to do stuff like the big people.
Dad was going to paint our kitchen cupboard doors, he'd laid them out on the back lawn, & my big brother was the designated helper. I was only 6, so wasn't asked to give a hand. I was dying to have a go, & it became clear that my big brother was doing it under sufferance. Dad saw that I was busting to have a go, so he found a little paint brush, & let try the inside of a door. I still remember the smile on his face when he saw what I'd done, he gave me the bigger paint brush that my brother had left behind, & I was allowed to paint the front of the doors with my hero Dad. : )
Lesson to all, some kids won't be interested, so don't force it, but let the one that wants to have a go, have a go, it could become a wonderful memory for you both.

Jason

School holidays start tomorrow for many kids. Have you got any D.I.Y. projects planned with your kids?

Jason

CathD

I really like this Lego table.

Lego Table.png

Kermit

This is a good one with the grand final weekend coming up.

RenoQueen

Something like this would be easy to do with the kids and they would love it. You often see entertainment units like these at op shops going very cheap.

Jason

How is everyone going keeping the kids entertained these Christmas holidays?

Jason

greygardener

These window sill kits are great for kids as the seeds grow very quickly and easily.

MartyH

Thought this would be a good one to do with boys. The road is painted cement. I would have loved it as a kid - I used to spend a lot of time in the dirt making tracks for my Matchbox cars.

Isobel

I like this idea for a kids birthday party. First half of the party could be making the cars, second half the drive-in movie.

Jason

This is courtesy of the D.I.Y. Workshop at the Bunnings Mile End store...

Shave foam.JPG

It's painting without paint. The kids make 3D pictures by mixing shaving foam, glue and food colouring and then piping it onto MDF boards from plastic bags. Great project!

Deanna

The kids weekend workshops are the perfect rainy day activity. I've taken my daughter there many times and she enjoys it.

Jason

Hope all the kids have a wonderful school holiday break. For kids who tend to get a little bored, some of the D.I.Y. activities and projects in this discussion might prove useful.

Jason

RenoQueen

Why not get the kids to paint the house this easter? 🙂

Jason

Here's a fun kids project for Easter - https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/kids/easter/how-to-make-a-sock-bunny-rabbit

Jason

CathD

This looks fantastic for kids!

Jason

I hope all the kids in the extended Workshop family enjoy a happy and safe school holidays.

Let us know if you are getting into any fun D.I.Y. projects.

Jason

Ada

That is one of the sweetest stories ever, and I can picture the many times you must have recalled that memory throughout your life. It's amazing how much pleasure/joy/peace/motivation/and identity a single memory can bring us, again and again.

I have similar moments with my dad, I was the little sister and my older brother was not interested but I was my dad's shadow and the feeling when I made him proud still bursts my heart now! We had a small property with a big garden and there was always things to do. The smell of his workshop is still the most comforting thing I know. There are still some tiny pieces of my dollhouse furniture that eluded permanent repair! I'm lucky enough to be able to take the time to potter around with my own toddler son now and I hope he finds something similar that he loves about our life!

Thankyou for prompting these thoughts, I think I'll give my dad a ring!

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Ada. It's lovely to have you join us and wonderful to see you make your first post on the community.

It's funny how smell can also invoke such powerful memories. WD40 is it for my wife. Its smell conjures up all sorts of memories of her Pop and Father's workshops. Also, apparently buffing compound, as they spent many hours working on their cars together.

I was teaching my young daughter last night how to use a hot glue gun and the importance of fixing other people's things that you've broken, especially after you've been told multiple times to please not touch them and put them back where you got them. She was pretty proud of herself for doing the right thing and fixing the situation. Perhaps in 20 years, she'll look back fondly every time she hot glues something.

Many thanks for sharing such a personal story.

Mitchell

Cocoplum

I started encouraging my daughter to design her own room when she was little and every 6 months she is redesigning using her creativity and min resources and many many small DIY projects. I created this design basics kit for kids. You can download it from my Pinterest if you like Interior design for kids

Remarka6le

Anyone got any tips for a 4 month old 😋? Right now his role is just chief giggler of the garden, but I'll be looking to get him more hands on in the near future.

Cocoplum

Created this for the same reason for my kid - you can download if you like https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/812477589020010418/

I try to encourage my kids to live in a place they will feel happy and this means designing and pretty much-creating everything by themselves. Cocoplum kids' rooms showed my kids' creations.

Remarka6le

Awesome stuff, @Cocoplum, I'll look into it 🙂

Cocoplum

It worked for me, hopefully works for you too 🙂

EricL

Hi @Remarka6le

I suggest several A4 canvases and at least 3 child-safe watercolour paints of your choice. Handprints and finger painting always work a treat. You can have instant museum-worthy abstract pieces on display at your home.

Eric

Remarka6le

Cheers @EricL , will definitely give that a try.

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