When organizing outdoor activities for children, the question of tool use often arises. Which tools? In what context? For what purpose? What rules should be established? Discover everything now!
Tools
This non-exhaustive list includes some essential tools for all kinds of nature crafts:
• Knife: This is the star tool that fills children with pride! Having the right to use a knife independently and carve their own pieces of wood is both empowering and exciting. From the age of 4, children’s motor skills are generally developed enough to handle a knife. Before that, close supervision and guidance are necessary at every step.
• Hand saw: A potentially dangerous tool that must be used with great care, but it is indispensable when working in the woods!
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• Pruning shears: Also essential for gathering all kinds of plant materials.
• Hand drill (auger): Available in different sizes, these are perfect for drilling holes in natural elements to thread string through.
• Scissors: A daily tool that serves countless purposes! Be sure to choose the right ones (see the “Create Your Bookmark” guide).
Choice of Tool
The best approach is to choose functional tools, meaning tools that actually cut! Tools designed for children such as knives or scissors that don’t cut are a bad idea. They tend to slip and provide no sense of achievement. However, it’s a good idea to select tools that children can easily grip with their smaller hands. Additionally, knives with rounded tips are available, which reduce the risk of injury.
Knife License
The knife license is a “tradition” in the realm of outdoor activities. As the name suggests, it allows children to earn a license. After a brief training session, a license may be issued to them, signifying that they have acquired the skills needed to use a knife safely.
The knife license can be ritualized: it’s a moment taken seriously and holds great significance. It’s up to you to determine the right time for this.
You can download a sample license to print from this chapter. You can then frame it, laminate it, or paste it into the children’s activity journal, if they have one.
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Preparing for Tool Use
When planning the activity you want to offer to children, consider the following questions:
• What tools will we need?
• In what context: the number, age, and experience of the children (if I know it)?
• How many adults will supervise the activity?
• How will I introduce the tool and its use?
• What rules will I establish? (e.g., safe use, number of children using a tool at the same time, setup location such as a table, stump, or the gro
Young children are perfectly capable of using tools wisely and safely However, this entirely depends on the quality of our preparation! The atmosphere must be calm and focused, and we must keep a constant watch over the child or children handling tools.
Measured Risk-Taking
When offering a workshop to children, we must consider the socalled “benefits/risks” balance This involves thinking through the activity and creating two columns: one for the benefits and one for the risks. The balance between the two will help us decide whether the activity is appropriate.
For example, during the construction phase of a squirrel nesting box (see the “My Animal Friends” guide), some steps were completed beforehand Using a circular saw with children playing nearby didn’t seem like a good idea! Even less so would be handing them such a tool. Beyond the safety concerns,
On the other hand, one child was able to screw in the roof using a screwdriver with my assistance. And what a sense of accomplishment it gave her! Even holding the tool was a challenge, but completing the final step of construction after painting and filling the nesting box with moss brought her immense satisfaction
Another example: during the preparation of the mushroom omelette (see the “Mushroom Festival” guide), I introduced a knife, which I handed to the children one at a time There were four children and another adult present that day, but we also had the campfire and cooking to manage, so there were plenty of elements to stay mindful of!
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In 10 years, I’ve only had one instance where a child cut themselves with a knife (a minor injury), and the child, incidentally, was absolutely thrilled with their day and proudly called it their “forest explorer’s cut”! When I weigh that small injury against the dozens of enriching experiences the children have had, there’s no comparison! ��
First Aid Kit
Despite all the precautions taken, a cut or scratch is always a possibility. You should always have a small first aid kit nearby, equipped with disinfectant, compresses, and bandages. Additionally, include soothing creams for bruises, burns, insect bites, and tick bites.
Communication with Parents (If you are not the parents nor are you with them)
It is essential to inform parents about the use of tools (or any other activity involving risks). The “agreement” must be clear so that both the supervisors and parents are on the same page. This ensures, among other things, a favorable environment for the children to explore and experiment
