Making a Wooden Toy Car with simple tools

This morning, we organized a delightful activity for preschoolers. Four boys eagerly joined our workshop, displaying a keen interest in the tools we had available: hammers, hand drills, saws, and sandpapers. Among them was a seven-year-old boy who expressed a desire to try using the tools himself. I promptly informed them about the safety rules, emphasizing that using these potentially dangerous tools required one-on-one supervision. In other words, if they wished to use a tool, they needed to seek assistance from an adult, with one adult assigned per child. Remarkably, they attentively listened to and dutifully followed these instructions.

I proceeded to demonstrate how to cut a car body from cedar wood and carve out the car wheels using a hand saw. We utilized fire cherry wood that I had discovered in my yard. Additionally, I guided them through the process of drilling holes to connect the wheels. As some of the wood had splinters, we employed sandpaper to smoothen the surfaces, ensuring a safe playing experience.

After observing my demonstration, the children eagerly set out to create their own cars. One child envisioned an ice cream truck, while others embarked on building race cars. Witnessing the kids unleash their imagination while applying the newfound knowledge and skills they had acquired brought me immense joy. Today, I witnessed firsthand the power of experiential learning, as the children engaged with their hands, hearts, and minds. This experience has left me truly happy.

- Rungrapee Feucht /July 8, 2023 /11.30 am