Age appropriate?

What age would/have you let your child have real tools? DS was 18 months old when DH made him a little tool table and we stocked it with cheap/old tools - screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, a little level, rachet, sockets, nails and screws.

We didn't think anything of it and DS has loved playing with it but it seems that everyone else considers him too young. My neighbour is getting her son a tool table for his second birthday, but has it filled with plastic toy tools and the lady at Bunnings made a negative comment when DS got to pick a bolt and nut for his table as a treat the other day (that it was too small and he would choke).

It just made me wonder what age other people would consider it 'safe' to give a toddler real tools.

I think its a great idea.. But I would make sure it was supervised.. more so he didn't damage anything with the tools.. As for nuts and bolts I think as long as he is taught they don't go in his mouth then its fine..

I'd say it's fine. you know your child!!

besides kids know whats real and what's toy, mine tries to use the real stuff everytime. at least he has some safe real ones, lol.

depends on the child and the supervision level. No way would I let My 2yr old DS have real tools - he would demolish the house, but that doesn't stop him from raiding my DH's tools and 'fixing' things anyway. I probably would have trusted my DD but she was never interested.

I think it depends on the child. Some children cant handle those sorts of toys whereas others can

I think it's fine too, although I wouldn't let my DS have nails or screws just yet, but that's because he still puts a lot of things in his mouth. But the tools I think is a great idea!

Depends on the child - from what I know of W he would love it!!

DD has never been one for putting things in her mouth and we have trusted her with smallish things for a while, whereas niece was always a really big one for putting things in her mouth.

DD is a bit of a fan of the 'real deal'. although we dont have cool tools or anything. just the gardening implements etc. she has watched us doing our thing in the garden from the time she was born so i guess her 'play' is more a mimicry. that said, she has just re-discovered her mouth again, so we have had to up the ante on ensuring that things arent going in there.

I agree, trust your own judgement. DD1 *never* put small things in her mouth but as far as DD2 is concerned, the whole world is a potential foodstuff (yes this extends to eating hte rubber grip off DD1's pencil and licking the water off the daffodils in a vase...:rolleyes:). Also depends on how much potential damage he could do, for eg DD1 was fixated on scissors and a number of items around the house were mysteriously snipped repeatedly even around the age of 4. Yet Missy E is a fairly tidy little critter and I don't think that would appeal to her.

we get same comment at times from people Jack knows how to use a cordless drill, a hammer etc we do supervise but he has been helping with hammering for about 18 mths now its just so cute

i'd be a bit wary about sharp items like screwdrivers. Little ones don't think safety and could run with it and fall on it. I think they'd be okay under supervision, but as a rule of thumb, anything that can fit inside a film canister is too small for anyone under 2.

Absolutely depends on the child. Oskar has never been one for putting much in his mouth (well things that shouldn't be put in there anyway) but a friend of mine has a little boy the same age and he's an absolute shocker!! EVERYTHING in the mouth! I'd be ok with most tools with Oskar, only because he has watched Andy heaps and understands being careful for the mostpart. I don't like it when people make you second guess yourself like that!! Like has been pointed out already, you know your child and good on you for encouraging his imagination. :D

We don't because he copies EVERYTHING he sees his Dad do with tools and we would end up with who knows what damage if we let him have real tools to play with. I would be worried about the screwdrivers and hammer though (if it's a claw end) as even though I know W is a very bright little boy, he still is only little and he could really hurt himself if he was to trip over while carrying them and you would have to set clear boundaries once the baby is here because a plastic hammer wont hurt the baby near as much as a real one would - and trust me when I say that no matter how much you tell them not to hit the baby with a toy, they still do it, even if it's just accidentally.

I don't mean to undermine you, because I'm not, but i do know what siblings can do to baby siblings even in the most accidental of situations and even the most careful of children can have accidents.

LOL Trill, I hadn't even thought of the hammer vs new baby.

He only plays with his tool table outside and so far in six months has yet to damage anything (including himself) and is always supervised when playing with it.

He loves to copy DH and they look so cute outside fixing stuff together.

i think its fine if he is supervised all the time. You know your own children and what they are capable of.

I would probably let ds have the same except for anything sharp, only because he NEVER watches where he is going and is very clumsy so he would probably stab himself or something.. lol