Tool/Construction set for 4yo ds?????

[guest^]

My little guy just wants to pound and "make or fix" stuff. He has one of those little carry tool boxes and a Bob The Builder tool belt. It just isn't enough. He goes outside to shovel snow,sweep the walkway,ect...

Does anyone know of an indoor toolbench,etc that would fulfill his need? Iam hesitant to buy a wood one as my experience with dd is that the heads fall off of the handles.

Please help!!



mp

[srain]

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for. We gave my son real tools at 4, in small sizes.

[AAK]

At my dds preschool (last year) there was a tool bench that the teacher and her dh made for the class. It was basically a short table and they put peg board up the back for storage. They also added some dense foam covered with cloth and attached to some thin wood. I think those were accessories. They were great for the kids to use when using screws, nails, etc. They also had "mini" tools (screwdriver, hammer, pliers, wrench, nails and screws). I think I have seen some 'mini' tools at home depot and Sears. Costco this year has a wooden tool table with tools that are real but small.

[TiredX2]

I would suggest a really light hammer, some softish wood (not like balsa, but nothing too hard/knotty) and carpenters tacks.

DD *loved* pouding carpenter tacks in when she was not yet 5.

If you want something more construction/toyish there is the Brio Builder line which has *some* opportunities.

With help, kids that age can do the "Home Depot" real wood projects, IMO.

[margitmama]

Here is a link for an ikea "real" tool kit that I was thinking of getting my DS who is also 4. Though the saws look a little dangerous. But I think if supervised, and given a little bit of help, it could be great.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...67*16113*16263

[Denise K]

I don't know about a bench, but maybe these ideas will be helpful....
We gave ds real tools for 4th birthday. Just the smaller sizes. He can use a lot of them. Not a saw, since any saw that would really cut wood was too big--he helps me saw with a big one. Wrenches, hammer, screwdrivers, pliers (we gave a list to the relatives and everyone gave him one, and we provided the toolbox), safety goggles!....Also we gave him a broken sewing machine (under $10 at the repair shop)--one of the older ones with no electronics. We work on it together. Ds and a friend (also 4) had a lot of fun one day dismantling a cardboard box with real tools, and another day ripping up a half-rotten log with them. When it warms up I'm going to drag out this junk bicycle that is languishing under the porch, and let him work on that--since he really wants to work on mine! BTW, he doesn't drive nails or screws unless someone starts them for him--not enough dexterity yet. The pliers and wrenches get more use. Also he really likes loaning us his tools.

[guest^]

These are some great ideas! Thanks!

Denise-I love that idea! My dh is a packrat, so it wouldn't be hard to find things for ds to"fix"!

Before I read your replies, I decided to call a catalog # to see if their toolbench and set was still available-as their website said it wasn't. Well, it was back in stock, and they hadn't updated their website. The bench is called "Tool Tech" and the addy is www.ttgo.com

Mp

[kater07]

I think I saw tool benches for kids at sears near the craftsman stuff. I've seen plastic ones at Toys R Us and Target and Sears both have build it yourself kits just like the ones you do for FREE at Home Depot and Lowes on the 1st and 2nd Saturdays of the month.

[JenniferC]

Our DD has child sized real tools, many from Lee Valley, shovels, hammers etc. She doesn't use them for long at her age, 2.5, but she likes having her own tools.

[Bebelus]

Both of these sites have real, small-sized tools for kids:

www.forsmallhands.com
www.hearthsong.com

DD is getting tools for Christmas - she's a bit over 3.