As a tyke I remember clamping a hunk of wood into my grandfather’s bench vise and cutting blocks. Later, it was fixing and building bikes in my mom’s garage. The bench vise and broken bikes led to my career as a building contractor, where I make my living using the tools I first picked up as a kid. I believe the lessons learned at the business end of a wrench are confidence, determination and success. That matters to me, because today, I’m the dad. While my boy is an infant–his tool life awaits–my daughter, 7, has already had some practice. She helped me “demolish” our dining room this November to begin its remodel. She whacked the plaster with my hammer, dust fell, a smile widened. Pride was born. All that from a hammer and a little time. Here, I have compiled 10 of the best tools for children to start their journey.
Related Posts

Mark and Theresa broadcasted live from the Ironclad Technical Workwear forge at the National Hardware Show. We grind the gears with Popular Mechanic’s outstanding, real…
I come by my nickname, “the 2-by-Guy,” honestly. Whenever I’m scoping out new tools as an editor for HGTVPro, in the back of my mind…



Top tips for getting the best results when working on a tile project? Check them out here. It’s true, I’ve put down a lot of…
You’d think what with “carbide” this and “lithium” that, modern technology would sound the death knell for the humble handsaw. Not so fast. You’d be…



Interested in making a dumbwaiter? Check out Mark’s design in Popular Mechanics magazine for an awesome How-To. For more by Popular Mechanics click here. Or search…



Live! MyFixitUpLife talk at the International Builders’ Show. Live MyFixitUpLife talk shows, with live music by Tim Williams, from Las Vegas January 22 and 23…
The Snow Wovel—or walking snow shovel—is a contraption of sorts. It looks like a combination between an old fashioned bicycle with the huge front wheel,…



One of my favorite things about pergolas is how unique they can be. Each one, while built on the same principles, can look vastly different….



MyFixitUpLife talk broadcasts from DaVinci Roofscapes‘ breathtaking display at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Our interest is peaked by the big time beauty…



MyFixitUpLife radio show w/ Mark & Theresa rewinds to a Popular Mechanics Volunteer Day at a Rebuilding Together Philadelphia project. They helped with energy-efficient modifications…



May 27, 2010: Mark & Theresa talk un-Desperate Landscapes, answering your questions about buying a pro-grade weedwacker, options for building a backyard patio, and…



Ever wonder who created the original design makeover show? On this MyFixitUpLife talk show rewind, we’re talking with him on this episode. Find out why…
Seriously, I have tons of books. And there’s cool stuff in them like trucks, animals, numbers, Dora the Explorer, Elmo, Thomas. My mom and dad…
MyFixitUpLife radio show August 7, 2010 Mark and Theresa are broadcasting from a Rebuilding Together Philadelphia project in the Wister section of Germantown in Philadelphia…



A pergola can be the perfect backyard oasis, but they’re also fun to build. They’re a perfect blend of big honkin’ timbers, some pretty neat…