MT's/tools and Kids

[eamo]

So, my eldest asks me last night "why do you want a new axe ?" - seriously, what kind of question is that ?  So, i tell him it's for, well, um, chopping things . . . . and for a project i'm working on . . . and for outside . . . and stuff. and chopping. and the garden and maybe chopping more stuff.

Now, he loves sports and being outside, loves watching Ray Mears and Bear Grylls and when we do campfires etc. Last week he surprised me by expressing an interest in learning more about bushcraft. He has a sak and I've ordered a whittling book as he and his siblings expressed an interest. And he's good at woodwork in school.

But - he and his brother don't have the fascination with tools I have - thats left to their sister who already has a few mt's (including a leap which she loves) that she uses for her arts/crafts/paracord projects etc.

So, what gives ? Is it a teen thing ? Even as a child I enjoyed having a penknife - one difference is I was left more to my own devices with it, I guess I supervise more ? I dunno.

[sLaughterMed]

Not sure. I liked knives and tools as a kid, but I wouldnt say I was facinated until rediscovering them a couple years ago. My oldest  son has an interest in knives and to a lesser extent tools, and loves his Style PS (intentionlly knifeless for now). My oldest daughter really liked my micra, but has no interest beyond that.interestingly, my toddler seems to be the most interested in them, but I think that he just likes the weight and feel in his hand.

[Fortytwo]

I still had my first SAK (a Tourist) until very recently and I remember my father buying himself a PST when those were fairly new. While one of those were a tad bit expensive for a boy under 10  but I did get a Micra (dated 0897 & 0997, I would have been 6 when it was produced...). I did have (and I guess it's still out there somewhere) a smallish collection of tools of the lowest of quality and the first thing I bought for my first wage was a smallish set of basic tools (so I wouldn't have to run and get dad's...).

All in all, I guess I somehow had the interest in me or had it forced in me from living in a house were there was always a room being renovated...

[Aloha]

I think its great that your daughter has an interest in tools.  Its terrific for our girls to take up bushcraft and such.  I also love when they hang with dad and do outdoorsy stuff.   

[temo]

Son did get intrested to carve wood last summer. I did offer SAK but it was too difficult to get blades open as not having strong nails / fingers. So we did end up to fixed blade knife.

[AimlessWanderer]

I think every person is different, young and old. I had an interest in pocket knives when others around me didn't. A friend of mine then got a Leatherman Wave (pre-2004) from us all (we all pitched in to get it for his birthday). I thought the scissors were very clever, but never really saw what the big fuss was with that or his swiss army knife which he also got excited about. 15 years later I caught the bug as it were, and have since found out his Wave hardly gets used, and the Swissy only sees very occasional daylight or use. Most of my real life friends don't carry anything, even though they are frequently grateful (and simultaneously amused) that I do.

[eamo]

Yeah, I'm not even sure what I'm asking - I think that my eldest was slagging me for "needing" a new axe - he doesn't (yet) get the concept of "needing" new tools, but then A) he's a teen and his interests lie elsewhere and B) he's not a member here and so hasn't been 

as my other son said about their swiss army knives - they'll last them their lifetime whats to be excited about ?

[Fortytwo]

Yeah, I'm not even sure what I'm asking - I think that my eldest was slagging me for "needing" a new axe - he doesn't (yet) get the concept of "needing" new tools, but then A) he's a teen and his interests lie elsewhere and B) he's not a member here and so hasn't been 

as my other son said about their swiss army knives - they'll last them their lifetime whats to be excited about ?

You were talking in your earlier post about supervising their use (something I think is good and necessary at least until 12 or so depending on kid) but I think there might be a more important factor to this. With you having plenty of tools around (I presume, you're on here!) they can't really "connect" with their tools since there are most often "better" tools around. And without this connection, how will they learn to like their tools? And with you having done an unusual amount of thinking about the relative qualities of different tools they will always be a step behind you and fall back on your knowledge rather than on the tools.

A solution might be to start them in a field where you're not so much at home. Watches, lights, wallets keyring tools, all of these and more are growing grounds for what we in Sweden would call a prylbög (lit: gear-fag, please don't read any negative aspects into this, the Swedish term can be used quite affectionately (at least in this day and age)).

As for the lifetime value of things, I think that's something that comes with nostalgia and thus won't show as much in kids. (I'm just lately starting to see the value of this and I'm 24!

[temo]

Well I think it is a good point to think. Young people have many things to get intrested. I know some people who have had intrest to MTs from young age. I have had some intrest in young age but more when older. I could think people use things they feel handy and useful. So could be that MT still requires some experience from tools so that they can be handy. Patience to do tasks. Again at young age patience is not necessary first thing that comes in mind. But like mentioned all people are different.

[eamo]

  good points here guys, gives me stuff to think about
 

[Aloha]

Having the tool is part one.  Part two is knowing how to use it safely.  Part three is opportunity to use the tool.  Sure kids and especially teens will flow in and out of interests till they grab something they really like.

I've tried to get my 3 kids attention regarding tools.  My oldest ( daughter ) likes having a blade on her for work.  She has several that have replaced a box cutter.  She tends to see the knife soley as a work tool which is where she gets the most usage from it.  My son could care less and doesn't see their usefulness.  He'd be more likely to carve his initials into a tree rather than find a better purpose for a blade.  My youngest, also a daughter, likes SAKs and her fixed blade ( mora ).  She enjoys handling MTs but sees no reason to have one.  She's also too young to carry "tools"  daily since she's a student. 

My kids are older with my youngest still a teen.  If they were younger like tweens or even younger I'd give them as many opportunities to use their tools.  Maybe with each project they'd become more attached to them? 

Introduction to tools is terrific because as forty-two mentions, they'll likely see value down the road. 

Lastly, I gave lights to my kids and both girls love having them and use them often.  I'll be upgrading both their lights this year.     

[zoidberg]

We use knives everyday for food prep.
Screwdrivers, pliers etc get used to fix, build or break down random stuff.
A day would be boring if they weren't needed.

[anditsgone]

I also tried to get my dad to carry an MT and have showed him my Swisstool many times. Although he likes it and has also saved him in some situations i can't get him far enough to buy and carry an MT.

He always runs in to the weirdest situations so it sure would be handy for him to carry one. Also when he is riding his dirtbike he can't carry dedicated tools but could slip a large MT in his jacket pocket.

If i run in to a cheap second hand swisstool x or spirit x i might buy it for him just to put it in his jacket pocket or in his car.

[magentus]

When I was young I worked with my dad (a chef) and he taught me how to sharpen a blade and ignited an interest in knives as tools.

As soon as my daughter was old enough, she helped me around the house (and at Friends as my 'Joiners Mate') to build furniture, erect shelves, repair stuff etc and my wife taught her in the garden. We taught her on days/weekends out to prepare food and fire and as we both carry pocket knives it was inevitable that our daughter would too.

She had her first SAK at around 8 (a Climber), and has (at 18) expanded her collection to include an Explorer and an Opinel No.7. Because she has seen us making good use of tools, she can see their worth.

[Aloha]

Well done Magentus  , both you and your wife. 

[zoidberg]

Well done Magentus  , both you and your wife.

+1   

[tommywp]

I've got a 4 year old son who has seen me using all sorts of MTs. He likes using the scissors on my Style CS and 58mm saks but for the most part isn't overly impressed by them. The other day his eyes lit up when he saw we unfold the pliers on my MUT and said "whoa....it's like a transformer!" So it's official, leatherman is cooler then Vicotinrox and the MUT is the coolest of them all!

[pietervn]

So it's official, leatherman is cooler then Vicotinrox and the MUT is the coolest of them all!

Amen Brother, good enough for Batman, good enough for Me!!!

A wise young man you are raising 

[eamo]

You were talking in your earlier post about supervising their use (something I think is good and necessary at least until 12 or so depending on kid) but I think there might be a more important factor to this. With you having plenty of tools around (I presume, you're on here!) they can't really "connect" with their tools since there are most often "better" tools around. And without this connection, how will they learn to like their tools? And with you having done an unusual amount of thinking about the relative qualities of different tools they will always be a step behind you and fall back on your knowledge rather than on the tools.

A solution might be to start them in a field where you're not so much at home. Watches, lights, wallets keyring tools, all of these and more are growing grounds for what we in Sweden would call a prylbög (lit: gear-fag, please don't read any negative aspects into this, the Swedish term can be used quite affectionately (at least in this day and age)).

[/quote]

rereading some of the posts here, and thinking about this and what you're saying makes a lot of sense, I tend to just do things for them rather then leaving them off. Can't learn if i do it for them can they ?

[eamo]

When I was young I worked with my dad (a chef) and he taught me how to sharpen a blade and ignited an interest in knives as tools.

As soon as my daughter was old enough, she helped me around the house (and at Friends as my 'Joiners Mate') to build furniture, erect shelves, repair stuff etc and my wife taught her in the garden. We taught her on days/weekends out to prepare food and fire and as we both carry pocket knives it was inevitable that our daughter would too.

She had her first SAK at around 8 (a Climber), and has (at 18) expanded her collection to include an Explorer and an Opinel No.7. Because she has seen us making good use of tools, she can see their worth.

yes, my youngest already has a couple MT's, a light and I've ordered a mora companion for here which will mostly be used by her for food prep. My eldest just waits for food to appear magically in front of him.

[magentus]

When I was young I worked with my dad (a chef) and he taught me how to sharpen a blade and ignited an interest in knives as tools.

As soon as my daughter was old enough, she helped me around the house (and at Friends as my 'Joiners Mate') to build furniture, erect shelves, repair stuff etc and my wife taught her in the garden. We taught her on days/weekends out to prepare food and fire and as we both carry pocket knives it was inevitable that our daughter would too.

She had her first SAK at around 8 (a Climber), and has (at 18) expanded her collection to include an Explorer and an Opinel No.7. Because she has seen us making good use of tools, she can see their worth.

yes, my youngest already has a couple MT's, a light and I've ordered a mora companion for here which will mostly be used by her for food prep. My eldest just waits for food to appear magically in front of him.

Someones got a shock coming 

[eamo]

When I was young I worked with my dad (a chef) and he taught me how to sharpen a blade and ignited an interest in knives as tools.

As soon as my daughter was old enough, she helped me around the house (and at Friends as my 'Joiners Mate') to build furniture, erect shelves, repair stuff etc and my wife taught her in the garden. We taught her on days/weekends out to prepare food and fire and as we both carry pocket knives it was inevitable that our daughter would too.

She had her first SAK at around 8 (a Climber), and has (at 18) expanded her collection to include an Explorer and an Opinel No.7. Because she has seen us making good use of tools, she can see their worth.

yes, my youngest already has a couple MT's, a light and I've ordered a mora companion for here which will mostly be used by her for food prep. My eldest just waits for food to appear magically in front of him.

Someones got a shock coming 

he has no idea !

[magentus]

When I was young I worked with my dad (a chef) and he taught me how to sharpen a blade and ignited an interest in knives as tools.

As soon as my daughter was old enough, she helped me around the house (and at Friends as my 'Joiners Mate') to build furniture, erect shelves, repair stuff etc and my wife taught her in the garden. We taught her on days/weekends out to prepare food and fire and as we both carry pocket knives it was inevitable that our daughter would too.

She had her first SAK at around 8 (a Climber), and has (at 18) expanded her collection to include an Explorer and an Opinel No.7. Because she has seen us making good use of tools, she can see their worth.

yes, my youngest already has a couple MT's, a light and I've ordered a mora companion for here which will mostly be used by her for food prep. My eldest just waits for food to appear magically in front of him.

Someones got a shock coming 

he has no idea !

Kids are hilarious.

[Smaug]

As kid, I loved my SAK, but never really wanted more than one or two. I didn't think much about it, as I didn't have the MEANS to have more than one or two.

For the longest time, I had only an Economy Recruit and a worn-out Imperial pocket knife. (Made in Ireland, by the way)

It was only after I "grew up" that I became overly interested in tools, often losing sight of the work that actually NEEDED to be done to drool more over the beauty of the tools themselves.

Don't worry, they'll come around.

[Aloha]

When I was young I worked with my dad (a chef) and he taught me how to sharpen a blade and ignited an interest in knives as tools.

As soon as my daughter was old enough, she helped me around the house (and at Friends as my 'Joiners Mate') to build furniture, erect shelves, repair stuff etc and my wife taught her in the garden. We taught her on days/weekends out to prepare food and fire and as we both carry pocket knives it was inevitable that our daughter would too.

She had her first SAK at around 8 (a Climber), and has (at 18) expanded her collection to include an Explorer and an Opinel No.7. Because she has seen us making good use of tools, she can see their worth.

yes, my youngest already has a couple MT's, a light and I've ordered a mora companion for here which will mostly be used by her for food prep. My eldest just waits for food to appear magically in front of him.

Someones got a shock coming 

he has no idea !

Kids are hilarious.

Gotta to love it.  He might as well enjoy it while he's young and momma there to do it for him. 

[eamo]

Gotta to love it.  He might as well enjoy it while he's young and momma there to do it for him.

funny, but i do the bulk of the cooking - until a year ago i could barely boil a kettle

[Aloha]

Gotta to love it.  He might as well enjoy it while he's young and momma there to do it for him.

funny, but i do the bulk of the cooking - until a year ago i could barely boil a kettle

Well good for you and him, heck good for all your family  .  I did all the cooking until the kids got older and could help.