How to Have "Hands On Boys"

I got my title and excerpts (in purple italics) from an article I read from "No Greater Joy" ... see the whole article here.

It is interesting because I had just recently read the same idea in another book about teaching sons and had started giving my boys those opportunities. It's only natural.

I know this is shameless bragging, but I will do it anyway. And no, I am not claiming that anyone listed below is perfect or hasn't ever had growing to do in their lives, but I see them all as pretty good examples of what I am talking about! ( the first one mentioned is about as near perfect as you can get*wink*, and the others are pretty high on my list of great fellas!)


Michael's parents allowed him to spend a lot of time out doors and discover things for himself. Some of his fondest memories have to do with creating snares for the vermin in their barn :-)
He is now very good at fixing anything we need fixed around the house, is able to earn side job income, and receives excellent reviews from his boss. We also are not at the mercy of the repairman, and I am so thankful for that!

Michael's brother Steve was interested in computers, his parents allowed him to pursue his interests, and now he gets reviews by his boss as being top designer for the publishing company he works for.

I have some great memories of my brother Josh and my cousins Allen and Stephen who used to take EVERYTHING apart when we were kids (back then I thought they were crazy!).

All three of them are very capable now of fixing anything and everything. Josh can fix or build anything, Allen builds motorcycles from start to finish as a hobby, and Stephen became a master electrician, and now is a pilot/business owner.

The basic idea is that if you want your sons to learn how to work,to learn to fix things, and to be "hands- on" young men, you have to give them those types of opportunities when they are young.

Boys have a natural inclination to want to investigate, discover, and build. Every parent, including single moms, can answer this call by providing for their son some junk…yep, you read it correctly…junk.
Allow your boys time and space to build things out of cardboard boxes, discarded wood, nails, hinges, wheels, rope, gears, motors, bikes etc. “Junk” is several steps up from Legos, Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, and similar prefabricated learning toys. It’s more like real life, where it doesn’t all fit together so perfectly and you have to use your imagination to improvise. And it never gets boring. Real stuff has to be cut and drilled, sanded and fitted, carved and shaped, glued and clamped, torn down, tied together, rebuilt and bolted in, cleaned up and soldered, welded, sanded and painted. And the great thing about boys creating something out of junk is that they are allowed to make a wrong cut, or some sort of “oops”, without wasting what would otherwise be expensive and important material. There is no condemnation in failure.

I love that!

Messing with junk is an inexpensive way to allow them to develop confidence and creative imagination. Furthermore, when a boy is consumed with his latest project, he will not be wanting to watch television or play some electronic game. He will be highly motivated from daylight to dark, rising early to “get back to work.”

This is so true! I had to practically wrench the "treasures" away from my boys and tell them to put them in a box, so that they wouldn't want to sleep with them!!!!

Our boys think this is just the greatest thing... ever. We have made several visits to the Salvation Army here in town. You can find so many things to take apart in that place for a dime, nickel, or quarter.

It's like a boys' paradise! They have taken apart all types of things. Most recently an old clock and a fax machine. The fax machine wasn't very old, so it was really fun. I think Michael had just as much fun taking it apart as the boys. They found all types of fun things inside. Magnets, copper wires, etc.

Of course with the allowance of dismantling things, you have to set boundaries on your good stuff. It comes with the territory, but also giving them these things to take apart also gives them an outlet.

If you see the value of raising “hands-on boys”, then be a “hands-on dad”[and mom..inserted by me]. When a parent allows their child’s course to be set by the wind of chance, the current of the Nile, or the vapor of mere academics, they’re either praying for an unlikely miracle or are guilty of neglect. So, train up your boys in the way they should go, and a few positive experiences can lead to a few thousand more. Watch over them. Teach them to be safe. Help give them what they need to succeed, and let their appetite for manhood begin!