[Jewelry making - Article 00417] - Re: [Orchid] New Baby in the house

[Pam Chott]

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    I can only reinforce what has already been said by so many about
    children learning (for better or for worse) from what they observe
    and experience.  Two of our grandsons (12 and 2) just spent 6 days
    with us while their parents were in London so this thread kinda
    sucked me in.  

    The oldest began learning about my tools about when he began to walk
    for a long time he was satisfied to wear a pair of goggles while he
    watched me work (he knew which pair was his) and it wasn 't long til
    he began to enthusiastically identify which tools were sharp or "don
    't touch, it could hurt you", or "only when grandma helps me". 

    Two years ago he made a pair of heart-shaped earrings and a pendant
    for his mother using a jeweler 's saw (no broken blades!), a drill
    and files. I showed him how to use each of the tools then talked him
    through his project. 

    I can already tell that the little one will be hankering more for
    the hammers and torch than the saw when he gets his chance!  :-)  

    A few years ago, a niece who was visiting with her family didn 't
    want to go on the planned fishing/camping trip (naturally: she was
    14!).  I stayed home with her, planning a little one-on-one, and
    suggested she try making something for her mom.  She was a natural. 
    We designed a simple sterling pendant for a smallish opal she picked
    out.  I showed her how to use each tool as she needed it and
    encouraged her as she measured and cut a bezel, sawed the base and
    made a wire bail.  I was overwhelmed by the precision she
    demonstrated with the saw.  She was a bit afraid of the torch so I
    helped guide her hand with that.  She buffed the piece and set the
    stone (with my trusty plastic cut-off toothbrush pusher) and was
    rightfully proud of the birthday gift she gave her mother when the
    campers came home.  This niece is now a sophomore engineering
    student. 

    I 'm sure that my belief that youngsters are so capable has a lot to
    do with my own childhood.   

    I was blessed by being exposed to many interesting things while
    growing up.  Our parents enjoyed a variety of pursuits in addition to
    their employment and parenting responsibilities.  

    My father couldn't read music but played most instruments by ear. 
    He loved building electronic doo-dads, games and radios (kinda dates
    me to say I loved sorting his transistors for him LOL).  He built
    numerous gadgets and tools that my mother needed as a seamstress,
    weaver and sometime art/craft instructor.  He even built her spinning
    wheel from "stuff" they had saved because "it might come in handy
    someday". 

    Mom kept four of us occupied with crafts, textile-painting, sewing,
    knitting, and whatever else she was enjoying or researching.  I
    learned to cook by watching her (she rarely used a recipe) and by the
    time I was 10 or so she often "let" me start dinner while she was
    sewing.  She started spinning and weaving after all of us were grown
    and gone, so I didn't get that experience. 

    My grandfather, a mechanic, repaired all kinds of farm equipment and
    cars and my grandmother, who was the best cook and baker around,
    could accomplish about any job that needed to be done and showed me
    that you can improvise when necessary. 

    Let the little sponges . . .uh, kids, watch and help.  Just be sure
    to teach and enforce safety and responsibility every step of the way!
     The benefits go far beyond what we will personally witness. 

Pam Chott
www.songofthephoenix.com

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