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. :)
We did that!!! We started an Adults category, which was just a few of the dads who were super into it. They had even more fun than the kids making and racing their cars. And it was entertaining to all watching them show off their cars and race them. Added a nice cherry on top of Pinewood Derby night.
I don’t know, Lucy’s car looks fairly aerodynamic. Maybe it will have chance when weighted?
The big point of this is to have fun. If they’re having fun they’re 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. I’ve made a car or two for my kids as they grew up. Well “helped” them. Unlike you I’m good with my hands. My problem is stepping in and “doing it right” so while you struggle with your incompetence I struggled with my need to excel. Can’t 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 Słodowy, 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!
They're still around somewhere, possibly with not all the wheels attached. The kids actually played with them, and those things aren't built to survive more than a few five second races. They don't do so well with the demolition derby.
Isn’t 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 couldn’t 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'm going to laugh when this becomes the Big New Thing in New Zealand.
You may be overestimating my position as an influencer.
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. :)
We did that!!! We started an Adults category, which was just a few of the dads who were super into it. They had even more fun than the kids making and racing their cars. And it was entertaining to all watching them show off their cars and race them. Added a nice cherry on top of Pinewood Derby night.
That's really great!
"Courage." I'm definitely using that word from now on when I shirk my fatherly duties.
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.
Definitely. Without those other dads, my kids would have brought in uncarved blocks of wood.
I don’t know, Lucy’s car looks fairly aerodynamic. Maybe it will have chance when weighted?
The big point of this is to have fun. If they’re having fun they’re 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!
Fun is definitely priority number one. They had much fun decorating the cars - and the carpet.
I remember the cars from last year! Apparently you learned nothing, LOL. I’ve made a car or two for my kids as they grew up. Well “helped” them. Unlike you I’m good with my hands. My problem is stepping in and “doing it right” so while you struggle with your incompetence I struggled with my need to excel. Can’t 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!
Doll houses are a much better gig. No winners or losers. Fewer tears. Good choice.
My son’s group had an award for the “safest” car, which generally corresponded with the slowest. :)
Love it! I need that award in my life.
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 Słodowy, 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!
Who knows? Maybe this will randomly be the year they win it all, no thanks to me.
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!
That sounds amazing. I'm sure they have so much fun with it.
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!
They're still around somewhere, possibly with not all the wheels attached. The kids actually played with them, and those things aren't built to survive more than a few five second races. They don't do so well with the demolition derby.
Isn’t 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 couldn’t write such hilarious newsletters! To each his or her own gift!