Daughter

[SNAPPER]

My 10yr old Daughter wants to learn how to scrollsaw. Wish me luck and patience to teach her. It is hard to tell her what to do with out taking over.
Happy Scrolling.
Dean

[Tor]

Patience you really will need in plenty if you have only one saw. With two, get her going, and then go to your saw and work on a project of yours, preferably one you can easily stop anywhere in the middle of any cut, at least early on for the various distress calls.

It is hard to explain only (firsthand experience speaking), but as you sit there wanting to "help", remember your first attempts loading the blade, and your early cuts. If you start getting discouragement on poor cutting, try showing her some of the posts from people just getting started.

Tor

[CanadianScroller]

I have shown some children around seven years old how to scroll at our local fair. I found at first I leaned over them and placed my hands over theirs, shadowing their moves. I did not move the wood for them, I don't feel they learn as well if we take over, they need to make mistakes, and know it is ok. We all make mistakes in scrolling.

My main concern was to keep them safe from the blade. Not to be scared of it but to respect it.
I was amazed at how fast they catch on....much faster than I did.
Mot important thing...have fun with your daughter. She will not feel any pressure if you both have fun.

Good luck and post some pictures of her progress. We need more young scrollers

[JohnB]

G'day Snapper,
GOOD LUCK
Just Kidding mate, you'll do fine.

Put a fine blade in the machine, I know she'll probably break a few, but they don't cut as fast as the course ones.

Just give a bit of ply let her at it. When she gets board with cutting hunks out of the ply, have a look with her in some of her colouring books and let her pick a simple pic and have ago.
But most of all, as Carl said........... Have fun

[Rolf]

Dean,
If she has trouble following the lines try printing the patterns in red.
you more contrast between the blade and the pattern.
It really helped my stepson when he was learning.

[BRScroller]

Best of luck in the lessons and more important savor the time she spends with you learning this art. There is nothing more precious then being able to spend time with your children teaching them something you love to do.

I asked my 6 year old daughter is she wanted to try using the scrollsaw and she said yes, so when I get done with her dollhouse I am going to let her start cutting some ply....who knows I may have the next scrollsaw artist in my own house.

[Back2Jake]

I agree with the others, make it fun... however, also consider yourself as a student.

Getting the kids to scroll is one thing... keeping them is another. This is especially the case with preteen girls. It's not just with scrolling, but other recreational activities as well. When teaching martial arts, I could watch a girl grow up from the little dragons program (4yrs - 8yrs) and then advance to the next program... but when they had to compete with the boys or I WAS COMPETING with the boys for their attention in the dojo/dojang ... I'd loose more often than win. It was a shame to see the girls throw away their martial arts skills or in this case, scrolling skills because of their preconcieved notions that they had.

My daughter started scrolling at 6, and is now 14. She doesn't visit me at the saw much anymore, but occassionally I will find her there working on something she has designed, and is usually using that time to silence her teenage world... no cell phones, no msn, no tv ....

So take a moment to see what your daughter WANTS to do before you start. Work out the basics for safety and technique, and then watch and learn.... yourself.

Make the moment count...
Take care
Toni

[BRScroller]

Toni,
That is good to see that someone else taught a 6 yr/old. My wife is a bit apprehensive about me teaching my daughter to use the scrollsaw. I told her I would be there and make sure she is safe.

[Back2Jake]

Originally Posted by BRScroller

Toni,
That is good to see that someone else taught a 6 yr/old. My wife is a bit apprehensive about me teaching my daughter to use the scrollsaw. I told her I would be there and make sure she is safe.

LOL, well as a Mother - hell ya, I understand your wife's apprehensiveness! I suppose the age depends on the maturity of the child, not the child's age.

By the age of 6, Ricki had been in contact sports for 2 years and had been breaking 1" thick wood with her foot/hand in martial arts, so I figured she was less likely to hurt herself with scrollsawing! Seriously, the child's dexterity, and hand eye co-ordination are some factors for me. Each child is different, and so are their parent's fears.

Take care
Toni

[doodle1]

I let my 41/2 yr old son try the saw out. He always loves to watch me and asks if he can do it. I let him draw a heart and cut it out with some help and now he wants to cut any piece of wood in sight. He has no fear of the saw what so ever! He even asked Santa for a saw of his own for xmas. Whether he gets it or not is a different story though. He needs help still but is learning slowly at my pace. It amazes me how fast he picks up on the learning.