my niece wants to learn...

[Chris Vargas]

So my niece wants to come learn how to make some pendants. I have no problem with it, but I want to see what other opinions are. She is 11, and I think she is coordinated enough to take on the challenge, but I just want to make sure there is nothing im overlooking besides making sure she is extremely careful not to burn herself. thoughts?

[Greymatter Glass]

We give lessons to kids starting at about 8 or 9 at my shop, and Rashan's son has been on the torch off-and-on since he was like 5 or 6...

Kids have amazing hand-eye coordination, are super creative, and generally very focused on things they WANT to focus on... but have a very short attention span otherwise. Safety is boring, so you have to reinforce it a few times usually...


In most cases kids are REALLY into glass, but don't want to be told how to do it, or what to make... so just let their own creative instinct guide them unless they ask a specific question or you see them really struggling with a basic concept.

Also, they WILL get burns and cuts, and they have to know that they should expect it and WHEN it happens, not to freak out, just set down the glass, and get some help. The shock/surprise always hurts more than small burns...
It helps to prep their rods with tape on one end, so they know which end will be hot... eventually they're gonna learn, but it makes it easier for their attention span issues :P

I love seeing kids pick up glass for the first time too...

When I've taught adults the first thing they do is stick a rod in the flame, no rotation (even if they've watched for a looong time)... and they get frustrated because it melts and slumps over to one side... and they get annoyed and start flipping it around and messing it up...

Kids frequently, even if they've never watched glassblowers, will instinctively rotate the rod as soon as they see it starting to slump over and have a decent gather their first try. Then they mash some color into it or something, and it goes south... but still.

-Doug

[glassdocnc]

My daughter was fine at 11. Just do a thorough safety talk before and be watchful during. I second the advice Doug gives about minimal "instruction" as oposed to "experimentation" Heather found it much more fun to try stuff and only wanted advice when something she was trying to work our didn't go as she envisioned it.

[Boozeclues]

keep in mind thats about the age kids start having the option to take woodshop. In 7th grade i was using table saws, planers, and routers and those are more dangerous imo then glass blowing. supervision is key.

[fUmEsNiFfEr]

Yeah! Good stuff Doug thanks! Reps for some kid teaching :D

Sometimes I think it would be cool to teach one of the kids around here. I actually hope one of them asks one of these days. I also like the idea of cutting them loose and letting them tear it up. I also like the idea of gettin' all Mr. Miyagi on em' and getting them to do my prep work. :evilLaugh

[Chris Vargas]

Yeah! Good stuff Doug thanks! Reps for some kid teaching :D

Sometimes I think it would be cool to teach one of the kids around here. I actually hope one of them asks one of these days. I also like the idea of cutting them loose and letting them tear it up. I also like the idea of gettin' all Mr. Miyagi on em' and getting them to do my prep work. :evilLaugh

lol... yeah... ive thought of taking someone on just to do my prep work also... im not gonna do that to my niece though.. but thanks for the input so far... im sure it'll be a hit for her... it better be anyway. I've always been her favorite uncle, I hope i dont ruin it by giving her instruction. I also hope she doesnt stink at it, and if she does stink at it, she blames it on herself and not me :D

[LTD]

My daughter Lulu made her first pendant on her fifth birthday. She asks me nonstop for another lesson.
With proper safety instruction and a watchful eye kids who are quite young can be pretty amazing!

[Jeffs Pieces]

Wow what a great thread.. I didnt touch a torch till my 20s, these kids are ahead of the curve.

[Shatner]

The shop owner I rent a station from lets his 14 year old son on the torch and has been for years. He (the kid) probably has better fundamentals than 1/2 the people that rent a station. Plus he cleans the shop (gets paid).

I say go for it, but point out proper safety procedure first!

[hwcglass]

Take pictures.

Remember to take pictures.

[xlconch]

I have several kids that come to the shop, officially to do glass, but I'm getting to think the computer access is more interesting :) I always get a liability release signed by a parent and start with safety - hot things burn, sharp things cut, bright things hurt your eyes. I also warn them, and their parents if present, that they WILL get burned sometime in the next month or so. Try as I will, they will do something unthinking and, hopefully, learn a lesson.

[loydb]

The first thing I do when teaching kids is to sit both them and the parent down together and give the "you're probably going to get burned and/or cut at some point" speech and make sure they aren't going to freak out about it.

Then turn them loose with some frit and some clear rod.

[Chris Vargas]

i forgot to come check this again... thanks for all of the post. I plan on using ever bit of advice given in this thread... including pictures HWC. :) I haven't made my next glass order yet, but as soon as I do, I'll be buying a pair of extra glasses so we get her rolling. It should be fun

[LTD]

I think aura lens still has a child size glasses loaner program....

[Shatner]

I think aura lens still has a child size glasses loaner program....

Would you really go through the headache of dealing with Mike at this point, still? I'd just pony up the money to avoid the train wreck.

[coloringdan]

We just had explore glass art day at the local glass art center. We had 1 hour to teach groups of 6. People ranging from 10 to 60 years old. It was interesting that for the most part the kids caught on faster than the adults and they were really disappointed when they only had time to make one pendant. It went great and zero cuts or burns.

[LTD]

Would you really go through the headache of dealing with Mike at this point, still? I'd just pony up the money to avoid the train wreck.

I have never personally had any issues with him. And loaner glasses for a kid who may or may not end up keeping at it seem like a great thing.

[Chris Vargas]

Would you really go through the headache of dealing with Mike at this point, still? I'd just pony up the money to avoid the train wreck.

yeah... shes just gonna have to wear adult glasses with a strap. ive read nothing good about aura besides the lenses. the complaints ive read have really turned me away from aura. besides... i need another pair for people who wanna come watch anyway. im not saying anything here from personal experience though, so im not advising anyone to avoid aura, but I am going to look elsewhere

[menty666]

I let my 4 year old try last year and he had fun, though round up with a little burn on his shoulder. It's all about gauging whether or not the kid's got the coordination to do it and the maturity to listen to directions to stay safe, so it's going to be different from kid to kid. Plus the glasses need to fit. I loaned him my goggles so I could strap them to his head.

At 11 it should be fine :)

[wfsupply]

At what age should your kids learn to make pipes? :)

[Sketchball]

At what age should your kids learn to make pipes? :)

I would imagine not younger than you would want them using them.

If it's illegal for anyone under 18 to buy a pipe, would that also mean the same for making them? (no really, I'm asking)

[Chris Vargas]

At what age should your kids learn to make pipes? :)

as soon as you know they can keep a secret. lol. jk... if i was a parent prob 16 or 17

[Cosmo]

I've met 16 year olds that I wouldn't teach because they were too immature, and I've taught 10 year olds who were more than mature enough to handle it. As long as you feel comfortable with it and her parents do as well, go for it.

My daughter is 13 and she's been on the torch for close to 4 years.