Simple Repairs Kids Can Make

How Children Can Use Tools, and Help to Fix Things at Home

Aug 1, 2008 Elece Hollis

Children love to repair things. Making simple repairs is a skill anyone could benefit from learning. Using books, tools and guidance help a child learn to fix things.

Some children miss out on opportunities to try repairs and grow up thinking they can’t fix anything. What sorts of things can you attempt to repair? With some guidance and a helping hand you may be able to repair your own bike, a wagon, or a toy. It will be a great benefit in life if you can learn to work with screwdrivers to tighten loose chair legs and such.

Electrical devices, like toasters and heaters are best left to the experts, but why can’t you assemble a piece of furniture or hang a curtain rod, mend a picture frame, adjust a wobbly table, or repair a torn book?

You may be more able than you think to fix things on your own. You can look up instructions for the repair needed – a good handyman book with simple instructions and photographs is a great help. Looking through such a book might also suggest to you what type of repairs you can try.

Locate a Repair Needed

The first step is to look for an item that needs repair, or renovation, such as painting. Ask your parents or grandparents if they can suggest something that needs fixing. Check with your siblings or neighbors. Do they have something you could work on? Considering your skills and age what projects might you tackle?

Everyone needs to learn to use basic tools – tape measure, hammer, screw drivers, hand saws, wrenches, and pliers. It may come in handy to learn the basics of painting. Come up with a project that can provide this learning opportunity without harm to family heirlooms or special pieces should you make a mistake.

A trip to a flea market or a thrift store may produce an old chair or table, an old shelf or desk that needs some friendly attention. A screw to tighten a loose leg and paint for renewal can give you great satisfaction and help you learn the basics of furniture repair.

Decide if You Need Help

Should you decide you do need advice and instructions, look for a friend or relative who knows more about the repair you hope to make. Is the project woodworking? Is it mechanical like a bicycle repair?

Often senior citizens are thrilled to help and have a wealth of knowledge about how to fix things correctly.

  • Can your elderly neighbor show you how to replace a cracked glass?
  • Can Dad show you how to remove rust from a wagon?
  • Can your scout leader teach you to fix your bike brakes?
  • Can Grandpa show you the correct method for varnishing an old coffee table?
  • Can Aunt Dorothy teach you how to sand a picture frame and rewire the hanger?

Learn all You Can

If no mentor is available to help, visit the library and look through how-to books for instructions for your project. Read and study any illustrations that will help you understand how the repair should be made.

  • What tools will you need?
  • What are the tools called?
  • How do they work?
  • How do you take care of the tools?
  • What precautions should you take?
  • What is the first step in your process?
  • How do you finish up?
  • What cleanup is required?

Find a Safe Place to Work

This step is imperative because you don’t want to have to make repairs to a carpet or wall or scrap paint from a window or door. (You can’t build a canoe in the living room like the boy in the Rascal story did!)

  1. Work out of doors for paint stripping or sanding.
  2. A workshop in a shed or garage should have good lighting.
  3. Choose a place that is well ventilated when using paint or glue.
  4. Use a drop cloth or newspaper spread under your project to make clean up easier and prevent damage to workbenches, tables, or floors.
  5. Have shop towels ready to clean up spills or spatters.
  6. Clear away any items that you might trip over while working.

Do the Best You Can

You may not be able to repair an item to pristine condition, but you will be able to learn on the repair and improve with the practice. In any case, take your time and proceed with careful steps so that you can be proud of the repairs you make.

Here is a word of advice you can apply to anything new you try : Do the best job you can with the skills and knowledge you have.

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The copyright of the article Simple Repairs Kids Can Make in Kids Activities is owned by Elece Hollis. Permission to republish Simple Repairs Kids Can Make in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Boy Painting a Door, New Haven Photos Boy Painting a Door
Fixing the Door, New Haven Photos Fixing the Door
 
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