Our Bluey has a strong tinkering disposition that we gladly embrace. Ever since a baby, he has been interested in the way things are put together and taken apart. We don’t believe this interest is inherently due to his gender. Tinkering runs true in both girls and boys, if they are given the chance to freely explore.
Legos and Duplos are a safe entry into tinkering for any age and gender. The only downside is that most of the toy sets are sold as a kit with pictures and directions that lead your child into a very specific design. Our practice is to make the manufacturer’s creation the first time out of the box. And then we store the directions in a designated box. Once the original design is broken down, we only retrieve the directions at our children’s request. And that doesn’t happen very often.
We’ve quickly moved beyond Legos in our home. Now, our kids break down and reconstruct old sewing machines, mixers – just about anything they can get their hands on. Bluey’s tinkering is such an inherent part of his personality that we’ve had to discuss that some objects are off limits. He recently tried to take apart our alarm clock!
You can purchase toys designed to simulate the experience of taking apart a machine, but why bother when the real thing is readily at hand!
Thrift stores and garage sales are a great place to pick up tinkering items. And don’t throw out that toy or electrical appliance that no longer works. Save it for your child to take apart and explore! You never know, they might even manage to fix it!
Tip1: Be absolutely certain that the toy or appliance you give your child has NO batteries or magnets! Always remove these bits prior to allowing tinkering.
We let our children use real tools while tinkering. Obviously, you know your child well and can judge what they can and cannot handle. We don’t allow Bluey to have a hammer or saw unless we are directly supervising a project. And we never allow direct electrical current for any project with either child.
Tip2: Cutting the plug off the appliance helps ensure that it will never be plugged in!
We encourage you to let your children explore their world!