Children's lessons

[wahoo]

My son wants to blow some glass. He is four years old and has been watching for ever and been playing in the shop for about half his life. He recently asked if he could blow glass. Since he really likes his own stuff, I cleaned and packaged up an old minor, some hand tools and a busted ass pair of specks. He was so happy. We set it up together and then melted some stuff. Then I was out of ideas. I have taught adults before but never babies. Do any of you have any experiance with teaching young children how to lampwork? Any tips? And does anyone know where I can get a child's size kevlar apron?

[somberbear]

aura has a program for child eye wear last i heard give em a ring. as for the other stuff.... not so much....

[barefoot stash]

I do teach youth classes however the kids start at around 11. I've found that much younger than that and the kids lack the attention span and dedication to really do more than just let them have a little fun and melt some stuff. Everyone is different though and if your child can sit in one place long enough at age four to actully teach them....sweet you are lucky. I've watched 11yr olds pick up bead making faster than some adults. On a minor you are going to be limited on what you can do anyway. I would say, just let him have fun melting rods and making blobs. Maybe do a collab with him and let him make some colored dollaps and then pass it off to you to put a hook on and make a necklace for mom. If he presses to learn more, go with it. Just don't get too wrapped up in making him the world best glass blower at four.

[naughty pirate wench]

BEADS!!!! My son Archer (just turned 7) LOVES to make beads. They're small and come with a handy hole for stringing. :D You may have to hold and turn the mandrel for him at first. Get your little guy some soft glass in a couple of colors, and some big chunky frits to play with, and he can just wrap a melted blob around the mandrel, roll it in some frit, melt it in, and be done with it.

[Deez]

why would you give your son "busted ass" glasses?? he is only four, he is going to need his eyes for the rest of his life. come on now!

[menty666]

why would you give your son "busted ass" glasses?? he is only four, he is going to need his eyes for the rest of his life. come on now!

I think if his busted ass set's anything like mine, they're fine. I have a pair of didy's with a shade 3 filter in the center in the heavy black plastic geek frames with a busted side shield. They're scratched some here and there but not to the point that they're unsafe to use. They're my guest pair.

I'd wear a pair of sun glasses and let my kid wear my 250/5's before I'd let him use anything unsafe, I'm sure a lot of the dads on here would say the same :)

[somberbear]

...... kind..... wahoo isn't like that...... there are a few threads about teaching kids.... i would figure beads would be a good start. i would say the standard stuff like ball and cross, turtle , octopus. but i dont know about that in soft glass. sence it seams like theres a general recomendation that kids stick to soft glass. i would figure clear boro would be fine..... but i dont have kids. and avoid doing the sugar glass thing... its messy and as my cook friend said "Kitchen napalm".

[JANKYglass]

ive never taught kids but ive taught adults that are dumber than kids.the first thing i teach is magnets.first magnet i do is a frit pickup.lay out small pile frit warm a small blob on the end of a 12 mil rod softly smash into frit.work it in and use your pad or paddle to keep it flat.punty up and tear off of rod,shape lens.knock off punty polish punty mark.next day glue a magnet to it.then from there its easy to add a hoop for a pendent or make both ends round for a marb.