Lowell man's creations spark joy for wheelchair-bound kids in Iraq
LOWELL -- Barry Lavoie's woodworking grew quickly from hobby to small local business. But his all-natural wood puzzles are bringing smiles halfway around the world. The Lowell resident discovered that recently, when pictures posted on his Facebook account showed children in Iraq playing with his work.

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Woodworking is an interesting hobby with a lot of potential. Once you learn and master the basics of this craft, the possibilities are endless. Combine this experience with teaching your kids, and you have something truly special. Not only could you instill in your children a deep appreciation for the craft of woodworking, you can also incorporate many lessons and learning skills without your child knowing it! Woodworking can help kids with their eye-hand coordination, dexterity, problem solving, and measuring skills. Woodworking can also teach a child how to take an abstract idea and make it real through careful planning from start to finish. However, before you put those grand designs in motion, cover a few basics first.

One of the very first lessons your child will learn is that mommy or daddy’s tools are not toys. The kids need to know that if they are going to be working in the woodshop, there are rules that everyone - even you - have to follow. Saws are sharp, hammers hurt, nails or screws left on the floor can cause a fall or other injury, and in the woodshop, everyone has to be careful and pay close attention. When working in the woodshop, teach your child that he or she should wear safety glasses at all times. Above all, never leave your child to work unsupervised.

Keep in mind that you want to start slowly. You wouldn’t want to begin by teaching your four year old how to use a rotary saw. Instead, give your younger child small jobs. A good task would be helping sand a plank of wood to prepare it for staining, or letting him or her draw a measurement while you hold the ruler and point out where the line should begin and end.

Start with the most basic tools and techniques and build on them one by one. A child’s first project might be something as simple as making a set of shelves or a small bookcase.

Teach your child about the different types of wood, what trees produce that wood and the properties of each. Tell them why you would use oak instead of pine for a certain project. Show your child that there is more to woodworking than cutting and nailing boards together. Wood can be bent, carved, burnt, painted, glued, or stained to make many different and beautiful things. You can point out kitchen cabinets, furniture in the living room, a guitar in the corner, or the picture frame hanging on the wall as examples of wood’s versatility.

For those of you who have children under four years old, you can still get them acquainted with tools. Many toys resemble the kinds of tools daddy uses in the workshop. You can get a toddler-sized workbench with a set of tools safe for tiny hands, or toy versions of little power tools that your child can pretend to operate. Whatever the child’s age, you can find a way to spark an interest in woodworking that will last a lifetime.

Kids are known for being inquisitive in nature. When it involves something they have a genuine interest in, they tend to really enjoy learning. The best way to learn anything is to put it into practise. Woodworking is one type of hobby that can grow to take on many forms. It's all up to the person behind the craft. It may be a misconception among some adults that woodworking and kids do not mix but this is vastly untrue. The best time to learn any kind of new skill is during childhood years. Getting started at a young age is actually beneficial.

Ease kids into woodworking by planning to undergo a family project. This way the parents can guide the way while ensuring there are no safety hazards. Children enjoy group projects with the family more than most will let on. By taking part in the woodworking process with them, you establish a bond while encouraging creativity in the home. Something that the entire family can tackle together is positive for kids of all ages as it shows that craftsmanship has nothing to do with age or ability. It's really about commitment and dedication.

There are many beginner projects affiliated with this hobby that are relatively easy for children to start off with. Consider a birdhouse as a first step. It's not much more than a few pieces of wood with adequate holes cut on each side for the birds to enter and exit. A stick through the middle acts as a perch for the birds to sit while they munch seeds. Have the children format the birdhouse so that the design is their own. Parents can assist with any necessary drilling or cutting, of course.

Many hobby and craft affiliated websites offer plenty of supplies already encased in ready to go packages. These types of hobby kits come with step by step instructions and can often be found according to age. This is helpful for parents who may be seeking something that is age and skill level appropriate for their child. It's also great for children because it is designed for their specific learning level. Having all of the necessary supplies sent all in one package eliminates any need to cut wood or gather supplies.

Woodworking is a popular hobby and because of that there are a variety of helpful resources for those seeking to start their children out in the craft. Books and instructional guides can be easily located with an online search. If this isn't quite what you're looking for try consulting your local community services in order to find out whether or not a woodworking class is available in your area. Getting kids involved with creative activities is great but when they can do it together it becomes even better.

It's important to allow children to select their own hobbies. After all, the point of a hobby is to spend your leisure time invested in something that stirs a passion within. A child's interest should be strengthened with the courage to grow and expand.

Joshua Powell's father: Fliers of missing mom upset kids
Joshua Powell's father on Friday said posters of his missing daughter-in-law plastered around his Washington state neighborhood this week are upsetting and confusing his two young grandchildren.

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