Patricia asked:
I appreciate the handiwork ideas for girls, but have only boys- ages 5 and 3. Can you suggest any handiwork ideas for them? Thank you!
Boys are usually more inclined to repair things, build things or solve problems. So if you are looking for a service minded project for them to do with their hands that a different subject.
If you are thinking more along the lines of keeping their hands busy, yet still creating something, then some of the following might work:
*Knot Tying: Get them some cotton clothes line and a book with knots in it. This is an important skills for any age. Here is a fantastic site, it has animated how-to! Grog’s Boating Knots
*Whittling: This is a good one for boys that are a little older. Learn to Whittle Ball in a Cage
*Fishing Lures: Lure Making There are some YouTube videos too, just do a search.
*Electronics: Our son use to love to buy used remote control cars and work on them. Yard sales and thrift store are a great place to invest a small amount of money and hours of priceless learning.
*Model Cars: For little boys, Older boys
*Drawing: Kids Draw
Legos and Lincoln Logs are my favorite for little boys. Did you know there are even Lego clubs that meet? lol!
GREAT question Patrica!!! Thank you!
Anyone else have any ideas?
KiM Matlock says:
I have another idea… take them to a cheap thrift store (Salvation Army is cheap; Goodwill isn’t) and let them pick out something to take apart and look inside (or better yet find something around the house).
I do this often with my boys and they love it. I have also bought them some tools (screwdrivers, measuring tape). Of course they need supervision, but who better than daddy to help them with that. They took apart a fax machine once and it had all kinds of goodies inside (magnets, copper, etc)
KiM Matlock says:
P.S. I absolutely love these ideas, Kathy! … and I must have scanned over what you said about electronics, because when I re-read your post… you mentioned basically the same thing about electronics.
Shirley says:
Hi,
Great ideas! And don’t forget to them them see *your* hands busy!
When my son was younger, he was very curious about my crocheting and wanted to try it himself. So I showed him how. Off and on through the years he has picked up some yarn and a crochet hook and worked for a bit. He’s 15 now and doesn’t do it very much anymore (although it is interesting to see him give advice to his younger sisters on it!), but at least he was exposed to the art/discipline.
My husband was never exposed to any sort of handiwork in his youth (‘male’ or ‘female’). He didn’t understand my love/need for it for a long time. But I showed him that in his own way he has developed his own set of handiwork activities: he makes sure the shoes are polished and shined, the knives are oiled and honed, the grill is brushed. These are handiwork he learned as an adult and I think he is realizing how rewarding it is to ‘do’ something productive in the evenings and ‘spare’ time. Recently he has started to research fishing nets and how they are made, he is thinking about trying it out!
robin says:
Have you ever checked out Keepers of the Faith and Contenders for the Faith handbooks from the Keepers of the faith website?
Robin in TN
wife of my dear one
mom of a few
homeschooling two
Julie in Fl says:
I love all of those ideas. I agree with the Contenders of the Faith book. It has lots of neat ideas. Also Doorposts puts out a book for boys called Plants Grown Up. I have not bought the book yet, but have skimmed through it and it looks wonderful.
I set my boys up with a little garden all their own. I help them tend it and they love it. My boys are the same age as Patricia.
Kathy says:
Yes, I am aware of Contenders. Jeff and I taught a Contenders and Keepers group for 7 years! We LOVED IT!