Tools For Kids to Try provides a wide variety of hands-on tool using experiences for kids with their parents, grandparents, siblings, friends. All kids from three years to teenage can use some of the various tools available which provide a range of challenges from easy to strenuous. Little kids can use the bit braces and block planes. Even five year olds can use the spoke shave and shaving horse. The augers, boring machine, treadle lathe, and molding and matching planes are for older kids. We keep increasing the variety of tools for kids to use. Tools for Kids includes the environmental component Trees and Us which connects kids with different kinds of woods, the trees they come from, and the importance of the forest in our lives. Old Ways includes a classroom and trails for this program.

Seeing the “I can do this!” expression on kids faces is a guaranteed stimulus to parents and grandparents to pursue tool use with them. Seeing this expression on the face of my then two year old grandson when he first, all on his own, stepped up and start treadling the grind stone hooked me. I can’t see it enough.

I’ve worked with too many adults struggling to use hand tools, I believe because they never became comfortable with them when young. I have yet to see a child who can’t pick up the tools we provide and use them successfully. It’s my hope that many of the kids who use our tools will eventually be able to enjoy hand tool work as they grow older.

It’s available by appointment at Old Ways Traditions, 418 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, NH 03224 and during events there the first weekend in June (Wood Days) and the third weekend in October (Old Ways Days). We are currently working with the Guild of NH Woodworkers to make it available at the League of NH Craftsmen’s Sunapee Fair.

You may download the Farm and Forest Heritage: The Valley Trail Guide and Map [453 KB] in Adobe PDF format. Click here to download the file.

For schedules, information, or to schedule Tools for Kids at your venue call 603 783 4403 or e mail efurnitr@comcast.net or check our website www.oldwaystraditions.net. Thank you for your interest. David Emerson