We don't have this tradition in New Zealand but I think we could benefit from it - now that my kid is way too old to participate and I have absolutely nothing to lose. Plus I get to watch other fathers suffer. I'm going to suggest it.
I like your approach and your courage to stand alone amongst all the other dads in the amount of your helpfulness/takeoverness. I can remember 35 years ago when our son and Mr. P built his sleek car. It was beautiful - shiny black with gold glitter paint. I think it won the "best" looking but didn't win any race. And we still have it. And the black spray paint markings are still on one of the basement walls. And probably all our son learned was that dad could make everything at a far more advanced level than he could. I think there should be a Derby for the dads and let the kids just enjoy the races.
And yes, cool shoes DO mean you can run faster. :)
I donโt know, Lucyโs car looks fairly aerodynamic. Maybe it will have chance when weighted?
The big point of this is to have fun. If theyโre having fun theyโre doing it right. The thing is, you are letting them be a part of what they WANT to, and not limiting them to what YOU think is appropriate.
I remember the years when my brother did this in Cub Scouts. My Dad knows his way around tools and they had a lot of fun together. Ultimately, that is the most important part!
I remember the cars from last year! Apparently you learned nothing, LOL. Iโve made a car or two for my kids as they grew up. Well โhelpedโ them. Unlike you Iโm good with my hands. My problem is stepping in and โdoing it rightโ so while you struggle with your incompetence I struggled with my need to excel. Canโt say I miss those days though. I make dollhouses and furniture for them so I get more than enough time with my tools without feeling guilty. Good luck to the girls!
Woah, those cars are still far more advanced than my peak crafting, which was "walking" Yogi bear (which was the first task in the book "I like to tinker" by Adam Sลodowy, that my dad got in his teenage years), made from two pieces of cardboard (head & body + four legs), connected by a drawing pin. I hope girls and their chassis' will be competitive this year!
I am glad that only one kid of three got into Boy Scouts. And even more glad that one of his grandfather's was very helpful in doing the Pinewood Derby. All we had to do was show up of rat event. We now have a grandson who is a car nut and had a DIY a Pinewood Derby Car (wheels and decorate) for his 2nd birthday. Same grandfather, now great-grandfather, built a track for all the kids (and some adults) to have fun. Our grandson is one lucky kid! Here's hoping at least one kid wins something!
Isnโt it refreshing to admit flat-out the areas where we are definitely not experts by a long shot? Saves a lot of time. I also think that those other dads probably couldnโt write such hilarious newsletters! To each his or her own gift!
We don't have this tradition in New Zealand but I think we could benefit from it - now that my kid is way too old to participate and I have absolutely nothing to lose. Plus I get to watch other fathers suffer. I'm going to suggest it.
I like your approach and your courage to stand alone amongst all the other dads in the amount of your helpfulness/takeoverness. I can remember 35 years ago when our son and Mr. P built his sleek car. It was beautiful - shiny black with gold glitter paint. I think it won the "best" looking but didn't win any race. And we still have it. And the black spray paint markings are still on one of the basement walls. And probably all our son learned was that dad could make everything at a far more advanced level than he could. I think there should be a Derby for the dads and let the kids just enjoy the races.
And yes, cool shoes DO mean you can run faster. :)
When one of my sons was a Cub Scout, the biggest trophy was for the car that looked most like it was done by a Scout and not a parent. Great idea.
I donโt know, Lucyโs car looks fairly aerodynamic. Maybe it will have chance when weighted?
The big point of this is to have fun. If theyโre having fun theyโre doing it right. The thing is, you are letting them be a part of what they WANT to, and not limiting them to what YOU think is appropriate.
I remember the years when my brother did this in Cub Scouts. My Dad knows his way around tools and they had a lot of fun together. Ultimately, that is the most important part!
I remember the cars from last year! Apparently you learned nothing, LOL. Iโve made a car or two for my kids as they grew up. Well โhelpedโ them. Unlike you Iโm good with my hands. My problem is stepping in and โdoing it rightโ so while you struggle with your incompetence I struggled with my need to excel. Canโt say I miss those days though. I make dollhouses and furniture for them so I get more than enough time with my tools without feeling guilty. Good luck to the girls!
My sonโs group had an award for the โsafestโ car, which generally corresponded with the slowest. :)
Woah, those cars are still far more advanced than my peak crafting, which was "walking" Yogi bear (which was the first task in the book "I like to tinker" by Adam Sลodowy, that my dad got in his teenage years), made from two pieces of cardboard (head & body + four legs), connected by a drawing pin. I hope girls and their chassis' will be competitive this year!
I am glad that only one kid of three got into Boy Scouts. And even more glad that one of his grandfather's was very helpful in doing the Pinewood Derby. All we had to do was show up of rat event. We now have a grandson who is a car nut and had a DIY a Pinewood Derby Car (wheels and decorate) for his 2nd birthday. Same grandfather, now great-grandfather, built a track for all the kids (and some adults) to have fun. Our grandson is one lucky kid! Here's hoping at least one kid wins something!
So, where are the old cars? We kept ours in a locked bookcase. We never got to the next level of racing, but those things are heirlooms!
Isnโt it refreshing to admit flat-out the areas where we are definitely not experts by a long shot? Saves a lot of time. I also think that those other dads probably couldnโt write such hilarious newsletters! To each his or her own gift!