Because my 21-month-old son loves playing with his Thomas toys and wooden trains. He also asks for "Daddy choo choos," his way of asking me to take him upstairs to run the layout for him. Here's where I need some advice. He loves wtching the trains but the layout is 42 inches high and he starts to get heavy fairly quickly. I try letting him stand on the bar stool I have up there but as soon as I do, it's "daddy up," his way of saying pick me up. Also it's quite hard to juggle him and a dcc throttle. So any advice on how to share my trains with my little guy?
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
"I must be doing something right...".
Probably not. What is the age old argument, is it nature or nurture?
Based on what I've seen over the years, some people expose their kids to trains and then a few kids take to it and the rest do not. So the "nurture part doesn't seem to work on the majority of the kids.
IOW, if your kid takes to trains and sticks with it life-long, it's probably not you doing something right, but him just having it in his genes.
Of course you might think if he takes to trains, thats a good thing. His future wife might not agree, but hopefully, if your kid turns out to be a train enthusiast, he will find a wife who is supportive of his love of trains.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
If you're handy at wood working, is a rebuilt high-chair out of the question? Maybe you could find one at a second hand store or thrift shop and swap in taller legs.
Alternatively, this could be an excuse for a garden RR (if the master of the house is amenable of course :)) or one of those Bachmann Big Hauler sets for the floor.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
Maybe when my great-grandchildren get a little older, I'll have such a nice problem.
How about an old car seat or booster seat (ours currently at the dinner table) attached to a step ladder?
Just a thought.
Good luck,
Richard
My layout is 50" and I built step up so the grandkids can see it but I always built my layout for me not the kids but I did make it easier for shorter people and kids to see it.
I like the high chair idea if you have space in the aisles. Do away with the tray part but make sure they are strapped in so there won't be any headers onto the layout or the floor!
I hope your young guy maintains his interest!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
riogrande5761 "I must be doing something right...". Probably not. What is the age old argument, is it nature or nurture? Based on what I've seen over the years, some people expose their kids to trains and then a few kids take to it and the rest do not. So the "nurture part doesn't seem to work on the majority of the kids. IOW, if your kid takes to trains and sticks with it life-long, it's probably not you doing something right, but him just having it in his genes. Of course you might think if he takes to trains, thats a good thing. His future wife might not agree, but hopefully, if your kid turns out to be a train enthusiast, he will find a wife who is supportive of his love of trains.
Agreed, having raised three children and three step children, nature seems to win over nurture - or, the culture undermines the nurture at home.........
But best of luck to everyone raising kids these days......
None of mine have any real interest in trains......
Sheldon
I agree with Sheldon 100 percent. Both my boys were nutso about all trains until they went to public school and were taught, in Susquenita School District, home of the famous PRR Rockville Bridge, that trains are for babies...this during first grade. Then they stopped. Apparently teaching that alternative lifestyles are ok is one thing but that does not include model railroading as being ok. Do they think train nuts are future terrorists or something?? And yes teachers said straight out trains are for babies as reported by my older son.
PRR8259 And yes teachers said straight out trains are for babies as reported by my older son.
I might have had a little chat with that teacher to find out if what your son reported was true - giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt. If that teacher reported it was true she/he said that, I'd ask on what basis they say that trains are for babies, and what does he/she mean by that. Maybe there is a myth about the hobby that needs to be dispelled.
riogrande5761 PRR8259 Do they think train nuts are future terrorists or something?? I might have had a little chat with that teacher to find out if what your son reported was true - giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt. If that teacher reported it was true she/he said that, I'd ask on what basis they say that and that its as good a hobby as any and dispell that myth.
PRR8259 Do they think train nuts are future terrorists or something??
I might have had a little chat with that teacher to find out if what your son reported was true - giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt. If that teacher reported it was true she/he said that, I'd ask on what basis they say that and that its as good a hobby as any and dispell that myth.
This is likely not the place to get too deep into this subject, but I can confirm stuff similar to what John reports over the time my children spent in public schools and this goes back as far as the late 1980's. Values, personal beliefs, attitudes about a number of topics, religious values, all undermined by the subjective morality of the liberal education establishment.
I taught my children right from wrong, taught them to repect authority, treat ALL people with respect, only to have schools tell my children I was "wrong" on a number of issues, like my childs right to physically defend himself from a bully, and otherwise undermine my authorty with my children.
I will stop here....
ATLANTIC CENTRALThis is likely not the place to get too deep into this subject, but I can confirm stuff similar to what John reports over the time my children spent in public schools and this goes back as far as the late 1980's. Sheldon
I'll just say that I've had to sacrifice having nice house with a nice basement because I was helping to fund a private education for my daughter starting with the 6th grade about 10 years ago. The reason was in-part due to those issues you spoke of and in-part the quality of public school education isn't what it used to be. Re: your particular school issues, it reminds me of that old Pink Floyd song, more relavant now than ever. Nuff said.
As for telling children trains far for baby's, thats total baloney and personally I can't even see how that is even an old school vs. new school issue, but rather a teacher who is "out of line" and needs to be challenged with silly, non-real world attitudes.
In that regard, there is a train club in in NoVA and the guy in charge is a boy scout leader and he is very involved with the kids and hobby. Maybe John's kids teacher needs a visit from someone like him to "educate" her on the advantages of the hobby, how it teaches many concepts and skills: carpentry, electronics, crafts, art, history, engineering etc.
I am a 55 year old baby !!
My wife buys me train stuff at Christmas , she likes to see her baby happy on Christmas !! lol
riogrande5761 ATLANTIC CENTRAL This is likely not the place to get too deep into this subject, but I can confirm stuff similar to what John reports over the time my children spent in public schools and this goes back as far as the late 1980's. Sheldon I'll just say that I've had to sacrifice having nice house with a nice basement because I was helping to fund a private eduction for my daughter starting with the 6th grade about 10 years ago. The reason was largely due to those issues you spoke of. It reminds me of that old Pink Floyd song, more relavant now than ever. Nuff said. As for telling children trains far for baby's, thats total baloney and personally I can't even see how that is even an old school vs. new school issue, but rather a teacher who is "out of line" and needs to be challenged with silly, non-real world attitudes. In that regard, there is a train club in in NoVA and the guy in charge is a boy scout leader and he is very involved with the kids and hobby. Maybe John's kids teacher needs a visit from someone like him to "educate" her on the advantages of the hobby, how it teaches many concepts and skills: carpentry, electronics, crafts, art, history, engineering etc.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL This is likely not the place to get too deep into this subject, but I can confirm stuff similar to what John reports over the time my children spent in public schools and this goes back as far as the late 1980's. Sheldon
I'll just say that I've had to sacrifice having nice house with a nice basement because I was helping to fund a private eduction for my daughter starting with the 6th grade about 10 years ago. The reason was largely due to those issues you spoke of. It reminds me of that old Pink Floyd song, more relavant now than ever. Nuff said.
A wise and nobel choice on your part. In the earliest days I could not have even considered private schools, by the time I could, none of them were willing to go. The advantages and disadvantages of starting a family young.
ATLANTIC CENTRALA wise and nobel choice on your part. In the earliest days I could not have even considered private schools, by the time I could, none of them where willing to go. The advantages and disadvantages of starting a family young. Sheldon
I couldn't even couldin't even consider private school myself, just like you, financially I simply couldn't afford it and afford a decent standard of living. But I was forced by my ex-wife and her lawyer to pay for half of private school anyway because in NY state, judges basically go with the "standard of living" the mother and child are accustomed to and if the father can't afford it - so what - into the poor house you go. She grew up a lawyers daughter and basically didn't want for anything. Lesson I learned, NY is/was a bad state to get married in as well. Result, I not only couldn't have a decent house with space for trains while a single father, for a number of years I had very substandard living conditions (lived in my sisters basement or tiny basement apartments.) I truly sacrificed standard of living but the end result was still very good for my daughter.
Oh, and as for "willing to go", my ex-was quite the tyrant - my daughter was never given an option.
Mel,
Was it a 1666? I got a used one a few years later. Only problem was the couplers didn't match the ones on my first used train, a pre-war 0-6-0. Still have both, despite a house fire.
Yes, the legal system has the school system on edge about a lot of things. Problem as I see it is, it used to be majority ruled, now one wheel squeeks and all wheels have to change. Enough there, don't get me started, I drive school bus, what can and can't be done.
Now for a more hopeful thoughts. Found out just before Christmas that a 5th grader is doing a project on model railroads. The project actually started in Sept and he already has a mentor, but he lives 30 plus miles away. The principal was glad to have me join in as a helper. I've met with the student once and will meet again when the modules of the layout come to the school. Evidently the mentor is doing the base work. I met him once for a few minutes, but that was long ago. I think it will be interesting to work with the student, as he seems very interested. Has been doing mostly research stuff up to now, from what I can tell. I think the mentor and I should be able to work together and I certainly hope to learn and I hope he will too.
There seems to be some model rr background in the family, grandfather, but sounded like health issues were curbing his abilities. Will be interesting to see how the project works out. Now the school knows there are people locally that have the interest they won't have to go so far for mentors and some of us "old babies" can get some younger blood pumping in the hobby. Even if they go away when school, girls, work, kids and life get in the way for awhile. How many folks here were out for mid-life and have come back? Guilty!
Have fun,
I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. The 4 year old does a nice job controlling the train slowly on a bachmann controller on our pool table. Him and his brother each perch themselves in wicker bar stools with backs that we bought ages ago for a counter in our kitchen in the old house. The 2 year old will be so in Feb and he sits real nice watching his brother run trains. They are perched up pretty high sitting on their butts so I would think this would be high enough for your little guy.
Mike
alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)
I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and (about to be) 5 year old son who just love watching the HVBL ho scale trains run the mains. I had the same issue with mine as they seem to get very heavy in a short period of time. I conjured up a pair of kitchen style bar stools that swivel with arm rests and they will sit there and watch trains run. They were taught not to reach or touch and I have never had an issue with either of them. I just recently taught them how to "slide" the ho atlas snap switches so now thats all they want to do. They throw the switches I point to, and I run the loco back and forth. They love it and it makes me laugh and the loco gets a workout. All's well on the HVBL..................
Rich
GP-9 Man, You sure are! Spending time at play with your children is always the right thing. Your son is a lucky boy to have a father who knows the score.
I commend you, regards, Peter
I must be doing something right..... I just heard you sigh.... Oh, wait.... Not the song....
Yes sir, spending time with your kids is doing something right.
Trains too boot, almost the trifecta....
They enjoy it? Ok, that's the trifecta!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
For my son, the damage was done the moment he heard trains are for babies...not just from a teacher but also from kids and ironically also at the Trainyard Gym which for many years was opposite Enola Yard, where he heard a mother say it to her 4 year old. My son was 5 and 2 weeks later stopped playing with all trains. Then he started hearing the same thing at school. It was game over for a kid who previously asked to go to Strasburg every saturday.
There is something sick in our area where people do not want to hear about the history and do not care. Perhaps some got oversaturated hearing about the railroad, idk, but I live in the town where many are descendants of RR shopworkers. In Rutherford they do not want to see yard at all and forced NS to screen it with vegetation.
The towns of Enola and Marysville, where I live exist only because of the railroad who built them. Otherwise they would not have been built...at least until much much later.
Private school was not an option for me.
John
ricktrains4824 I must be doing something right..... I just heard you sigh.... Oh, wait.... Not the song.... Yes sir, spending time with your kids is doing something right. Trains too boot, almost the trifecta.... They enjoy it? Ok, that's the trifecta!
I've got a lot of old songs rattling around in my head, but never heard of that one! Does it pre-date the late 1960's?
I agree, spending quality time with the kids is the right thing to do for sure. But whether or not the "train bug" sticks, only time will tell. Exposing them to trains may or may not spark a life long interest. But it can't hurt to try.
riogrande5761 ricktrains4824 I must be doing something right..... I just heard you sigh.... Oh, wait.... Not the song.... Yes sir, spending time with your kids is doing something right. Trains too boot, almost the trifecta.... They enjoy it? Ok, that's the trifecta! I've got a lot of old songs rattling around in my head, but never heard of that one! Does it pre-date the late 1960's? I agree, spending quality time with the kids is the right thing to do for sure. But whether or not the "train bug" sticks, only time will tell. Exposing them to trains may or may not spark a life long interest. But it can't hurt to try.
Sorry riogrande5761, but it is much newer than that... Under 10 yrs old in fact. Was from late 2009-2010 country.
ricktrains4824 Sorry riogrande5761, but it is much newer than that... Under 10 yrs old in fact. Was from late 2009-2010 country.
I don't listen to any contemporary pop music on the radio either.
Only stuff where the people could actually play their instruments for real, and sing for real...
PRR8259 I don't listen to any contemporary pop music on the radio either. Only stuff where the people could actually play their instruments for real, and sing for real...
us old folks are irrelevant according to all the marketers for products, clothing, music - allt he money is in the teen thru 30 crowd. Those contemporary pop music artists are still raking in money from that demographic - not us. Pffft!
When my kids were younger and we went fishing. I left my pole at home. Why ? Because I knew that the days are fleeting and I could go fishing anytime I wanted after they were grown. But at that moment in that time they would only be little and would remember that day for the rest of thier life.
put the trains on auto and enjoy your son enjoying the train. All to soon they will be into cars and girls.
YGW
riogrande5761 PRR8259 I don't listen to any contemporary pop music on the radio either. Only stuff where the people could actually play their instruments for real, and sing for real... us old folks are irrelevant according to all the marketers for products, clothing, music - allt he money is in the teen thru 30 crowd. Those contemporary pop music artists are still raking in money from that demographic - not us. Pffft!