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When your kids are little, they love being around you. They want to go everywhere you go, sit on your lap and have you pick them up. As they get older, you naturally grow apart. Maybe they want to spend time with their friends, and they don’t want you volunteering at school events or field trips. They still love you, but they don’t show it in the same way.
To stay close to your children, try a little harder and come up with new ideas as they get older. Especially when you don’t want to be seen as the uncool dad. One fun and productive way to get closer to your kids is to build something together. It’s an excellent way to teach your children the skills you have if you’re handy. If you aren’t, it’s an opportunity to learn something new together.
Start Small
Start with something simple. You don’t want to tackle a huge project and end up embarrassing yourself and upsetting your children. Try one of these simple projects or get input from your child. Don’t show disappointment if they don’t seem interested at first. If it’s not on a computer, a TV or a personal device kids often aren’t eager to participate.
1. Birdhouse
A birdhouse is basically a box with a hole in it made from wood or recycled materials. You can order a birdhouse kit online or create your own design. It’s up to you and your child. Discuss what kinds of birds you hope make their home in the birdhouse and get creative with the architecture.
Paint it any color you want and find a spot where you can watch birds from a window in your house. However, a bat could make its home there instead of a bird, or wasps could build a nest in it. You can’t control what creatures find interest in your birdhouse, but you can always hope for a pretty cardinal or blue jay.
2. BookShelf
You can make a bookshelf for your kids’ books and toys. Look up a design online to teach your kids about different construction materials. Discuss with your child what items your bookshelf will store. Maybe they want to fill the shelves with stuffed animals or trophies from soccer. Teach them the important difference between a nail and a screw, and make sure they get the right one so all their work doesn’t fall apart.
You can paint it a color to match their bedroom or one that absolutely doesn’t. Paint it purple or pink or multiple colors. What’s important is that you plan it together and get feedback from your child as they help you design it.
3. Storage Box
Build a box together. It can be a small box to put jewelry or marbles in or a big box to fit as many toys as possible. You can go all wood with a top or add hardware such as hinges and latches. Your box can stay natural, or you can stain it or paint it. You can even etch or burn your child’s name into it.
Line it with red felt or keep it plain, depending on what you are going to do with the box. After you make one, you will want to make another. They can be simple, rough-cut wooden boxes or beautifully smooth pieces of art. Again, talk to your kid and see what style is best for them.
Bond With Your Child
What you decide to make doesn’t matter. The bigger purpose is to spend time bonding with your child and teach them a valuable skill. Your child may discover they are interested in carpentry or painting after working with you.
Or maybe you will make a birdhouse and forget all about it before summer is over. Either way, you will spend time communicating and creating with your child, and that is the main goal of the project. Plus, it can also give you some Father-son or Father-daughter time to have conversations you might otherwise ignore.
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Photo provided by the author.