[:D]Getting kids involved

[lesterperry]

A few weeks ago someone posted a topic about kids not interestred in modelrailroading. It seems they are more interested in computers and video games. The question was what do we do about it. I have a suggestion.
Many years ago in my area an open house tour was started. It is done through the month of November. This year there are 97 participants and 2500 scheduals printed. I have participated for 7 or 8 years but this year I didn't. I have had four calls asking why and if they can stop by some time at my convenience. My answer was life got in the way this year and yes you can stop by. Why are these people calling? It is not because I have a layout that is huge. It is not because I have been in magazines. It is because I will give a 7 year old kid the controls of an H8 with 75 coal cars behind it and let him run it 125 MPH. Today a 10 or 11 year old stopped by. He brought his grandfather with him. He brought his own locomotive and wanted to run it on my layout. I said absolutley. He said he has a track at home but no tunnels or bridges or switches ect. So he had a great time running on a big layout. He also ran some of my trians. He had a lot of fun. He told me he was planning a layout for his basement. He was here for over an hour. This was not his first visit here obveously. So how do we get kids involved?
LET THEM PLAY WITH YOUR TRAINS.

[Anonymous]

I agree with that sentiment. I agree that the best way to get people involved is to get them fully immersed. Unfortunatly, everytime I give some one the throttle they shy away. (What is with that?) But I think that the more I pursue the cause the more good that can come of it.

James

[accord1959]

Railroads of yester year used to let people ride along with the crew as long as they signed a waiver absolving the road of responsibility. There are few left that will excite a young ones blood, if you ask, a few short lines will still do it, I know I work for one that does.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your post lesterperry.. This is a great example of what is needed to compete with all the other forms of entertainment good and bad, that take kids away from this great hobby......for kids its one thing to look but to controll a loco......... WOW...no wonder your popular...you sound like a great guy.....

Keep it up...

Mike....

[howmus]

lesterperry, you are soooooo right. Last summer I spent a weekend in the Adirondack Mountains up here in NYS at a Webelo Camp (4th and 5th grade Scouts) doing a World's Greatest Hobby presentation. The first part of the presentation was the usual "info about the hobby", scales, types of equipment, different forms of the hobby, etc. They seemed to like that, but...... The last 10 to 15 minutes was having each den (6 to 8 boys) work on a switching puzzle game on a small module. Every boy was assigned a "job" on the train. The boys loved it, even if they only got to throw the switches. "Man, that was cool, I got to be the SWITCHMAN!!!!!" In fact several parents were dissapointed that there wasn't time for them to have at it. Yeh, it is really not so much fun to stand there and watch an adult play with his (her) trains when you are 10. [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lesterperry


Many years ago in my area an open house tour was started. It is done through the month of November.

there is somthing like that in my area too. it's called piedmont pilgramige i think.
http://www.piedmont-div.org/pilgrimage/index.html
i belive their is 32 layouts this year, and all the tours are free. It started today. i'm going to go to as many as i can. and hopefully someone will let me run their trains. plus, someone has a live steam that i'm definatly going to, that i think you get to ride on, and help them run the trains

[dgwinup]

Several years ago, I took my grandsons, Caleb, 5 years old, and Jake, 8 years old, to our LHS. The hobby shop is small and they weren't interested in buying anything. What we came to see is the layout in the back room. Back room? More like a warehouse! Huge! At least 50' wide and 90' long! Filled with an HO layout. It was an open house day (once a month). The boys were fascinated watching the trains run through the layout. After about 15 minutes, Ken, the owner, came over to Caleb (remember, he's 5 years old) and asked Caleb if he'd like to run a train. Caleb stood speechless for a few seconds, then responded with an enthusiastic "YES!". Ken handed Caleb a wireless throttle, pointed to a looooong train in the yard, and showed Caleb the speed control, brake and emergency stop. Then he told Caleb he wasn't allowed to pass a red light. Ken walked away! My heart was in my throat. The only time Caleb had EVER run a train was on my little layout, and his main interest was seeing how fast the little engine could go. Caleb stood next to his train as he advanced the throttle. As the 3 engine lash-up began to move, Caleb started shouting to his brother Jake, "Hey, Jake. Look! I'm running this train!" I reminded him he had to pay attention to his train and Caleb set to work following the train around the layout, a trip that took nearly 25 minutes! Caleb ran the train like an old pro! He had two mishaps: the first when he ran a red light and fouled a switch. He had to slooooowly back his train to clear the switch. A few minutes later, while Caleb was running under a green light, another train BACKED through a red indicator and fouled a switch, right in front of Caleb's train. It was the only time I interferred as I reached over Caleb's shoulder and hit the emergency stop. Disaster avoided! Caleb was excited beyond words. He enjoys trains, and asks about mine from time to time, but he is not interested enough to want his own layout.

But on that one day, a brave man with ice water in his veins gave Caleb the opportunity to be an engineer on a "real" model layout, an experience Caleb will never forget!

And neither will I!

Darrell, quiet...for now

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dgwinup

Several years ago, I took my grandsons, Caleb, 5 years old, and Jake, 8 years old, to our LHS. The hobby shop is small and they weren't interested in buying anything. What we came to see is the layout in the back room. Back room? More like a warehouse! Huge! At least 50' wide and 90' long! Filled with an HO layout. It was an open house day (once a month). The boys were fascinated watching the trains run through the layout. After about 15 minutes, Ken, the owner, came over to Caleb (remember, he's 5 years old) and asked Caleb if he'd like to run a train. Caleb stood speechless for a few seconds, then responded with an enthusiastic "YES!". Ken handed Caleb a wireless throttle, pointed to a looooong train in the yard, and showed Caleb the speed control, brake and emergency stop. Then he told Caleb he wasn't allowed to pass a red light. Ken walked away! My heart was in my throat. The only time Caleb had EVER run a train was on my little layout, and his main interest was seeing how fast the little engine could go. Caleb stood next to his train as he advanced the throttle. As the 3 engine lash-up began to move, Caleb started shouting to his brother Jake, "Hey, Jake. Look! I'm running this train!" I reminded him he had to pay attention to his train and Caleb set to work following the train around the layout, a trip that took nearly 25 minutes! Caleb ran the train like an old pro! He had two mishaps: the first when he ran a red light and fouled a switch. He had to slooooowly back his train to clear the switch. A few minutes later, while Caleb was running under a green light, another train BACKED through a red indicator and fouled a switch, right in front of Caleb's train. It was the only time I interferred as I reached over Caleb's shoulder and hit the emergency stop. Disaster avoided! Caleb was excited beyond words. He enjoys trains, and asks about mine from time to time, but he is not interested enough to want his own layout.

But on that one day, a brave man with ice water in his veins gave Caleb the opportunity to be an engineer on a "real" model layout, an experience Caleb will never forget!

And neither will I!

Darrell, quiet...for now

Thanks for sharing your story...............

Mike...

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lesterperry

A few weeks ago someone posted a topic about kids not interestred in modelrailroading. It seems they are more interested in computers and video games. The question was what do we do about it. I have a suggestion.
Many years ago in my area an open house tour was started. It is done through the month of November. This year there are 97 participants and 2500 scheduals printed. I have participated for 7 or 8 years but this year I didn't. I have had four calls asking why and if they can stop by some time at my convenience. My answer was life got in the way this year and yes you can stop by. Why are these people calling? It is not because I have a layout that is huge. It is not because I have been in magazines. It is because I will give a 7 year old kid the controls of an H8 with 75 coal cars behind it and let him run it 125 MPH. Today a 10 or 11 year old stopped by. He brought his grandfather with him. He brought his own locomotive and wanted to run it on my layout. I said absolutley. He said he has a track at home but no tunnels or bridges or switches ect. So he had a great time running on a big layout. He also ran some of my trians. He had a lot of fun. He told me he was planning a layout for his basement. He was here for over an hour. This was not his first visit here obveously. So how do we get kids involved?
LET THEM PLAY WITH YOUR TRAINS.

Let's look at this another way... Would you have let that 10 or 11 year old come by himself? Without an adult family member? Even if he had been there before with family or during one of those tours and you knew that he wouldn't damage anything.. Would you INVITE him? Again, in the same senerio.. Personally I wouldn't.. Not in todays world.. You hit it on the head when you said the kid brought his grandfather.. It is the Families that must get them involved or at least support them in persuing (sp?) the hobby.

When junior is set in front of the boob box (electronic babysitter) at the age of 4 with a game controller in his hands, eventually that's all he'll be interested in.. As far as interest in computers, it depends on what they are doing with the computer. I'm not one of these morons that believes video games promote violence but I do believe they promote stupidity.

Most kids are very creative thinkers.. Just tell one he can't have any cookies before dinner and he'll come up with all kinds of ways to try and convince you he should have one.. The key is to turn that creativity towards creating something, in this case, his own little world based on trains. But that is the parents job as I see it, not mine.. If a friend wants to bring junior to see and yes, even run the trains, he's welcome.. But someone I don't know, No way.

My [2c]
Jeff

[aluesch]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lesterperry

A few weeks ago someone posted a topic about kids not interestred in modelrailroading. It seems they are more interested in computers and video games. The question was what do we do about it. I have a suggestion.
Many years ago in my area an open house tour was started. It is done through the month of November. This year there are 97 participants and 2500 scheduals printed. I have participated for 7 or 8 years but this year I didn't. I have had four calls asking why and if they can stop by some time at my convenience. My answer was life got in the way this year and yes you can stop by. Why are these people calling? It is not because I have a layout that is huge. It is not because I have been in magazines. It is because I will give a 7 year old kid the controls of an H8 with 75 coal cars behind it and let him run it 125 MPH. Today a 10 or 11 year old stopped by. He brought his grandfather with him. He brought his own locomotive and wanted to run it on my layout. I said absolutley. He said he has a track at home but no tunnels or bridges or switches ect. So he had a great time running on a big layout. He also ran some of my trians. He had a lot of fun. He told me he was planning a layout for his basement. He was here for over an hour. This was not his first visit here obveously. So how do we get kids involved?
LET THEM PLAY WITH YOUR TRAINS.

I also think computer operation may bring many young kids fascinated by computers back to our hobby. Every time we exhibit at a train show, a large percentage of the crowd attracted to our layout are kids, because the first thing they notice is the lap top.

Regards,
Art
Zimo Agency of North America
http://www.mrsonline.net/

[dragonriversteel]

Some of you guys ,I'm sure remember a TV show from the 70's. "The Adams Family" ,and do you remember gomez,crashing the trains ? Same thing with kids. How fast does it go ? Can I crash it ?
No way in hades,I don't even let my son,control the throttle. I ,like most others on this forum ,have to much time and money tied up in this hobby. There's no way any kid, my son included will ever touch any trains {maybe in the future} . My son has no intrest in model trains or trains ,truth be known. I wish I could get him involved,but his intrest are girls,skateboarding,playstation,computer games. I did have him hooked on MSTS,before the puter crashed. I do think,that once I get the whole layout up and running,he'll want to play with my toys. But only after a very intense training class,on how to handle the trains.

Patrick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dragonriversteel

Some of you guys ,I'm sure remember a TV show from the 70's. "The Adams Family" ,and do you remember gomez,crashing the trains ? Same thing with kids. How fast does it go ? Can I crash it ?
No way in hades,I don't even let my son,control the throttle. I ,like most others on this forum ,have to much time and money tied up in this hobby. There's no way any kid, my son included will ever touch any trains {maybe in the future} . My son has no intrest in model trains or trains ,truth be known. I wish I could get him involved,but his intrest are girls,skateboarding,playstation,computer games. I did have him hooked on MSTS,before the puter crashed. I do think,that once I get the whole layout up and running,he'll want to play with my toys. But only after a very intense training class,on how to handle the trains.

Patrick

Sure let's get kids interested by giveing them training classes on how to run, then it becomes like school. NOT A GOOD IDEA.[V] A better idea would be just let them run some old Athearn stuff[:)]

[Anonymous]

Yes, well said.LOTUS .when I first operated on a club layout, theadults thought I was just another like someone said "how fast does it go?'" can I crach it " kid, but I really showed them, when I handled m,y equipment well, and ran my triple headed stacktrain sop slowly and carefully that even the peopel who were most suspicois of me encouraged me to go faster, and by the end of the night, they offered me the throttles to their own trians!!!! I stated out with a loop of trachj and some old tyco stuff, hen worked my way up to a layout with KATo diesles.

[Anonymous]

Sorry aobout mY bad typing , I spranged my finger[B)]

[robengland]

My son has been driving my trains since he was 5. I'd have started him sooner but I didn't have a layout built. Now he's six he has his own N scale layout. He has never raced or deliberately crashed a train. Just explain to them that the rules of the game are that the most realistic driving wins. He knows not to handle locos too much because his coordination isn't there yet - I explained that to him too. And - just as you would with an adult beginner - start them with an old Athearn diesel, not your prize steam.

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dragonriversteel


No way in hades,I don't even let my son,control the throttle. I ,like most others on this forum ,have to much time and money tied up in this hobby. There's no way any kid, my son included will ever touch any trains {maybe in the future} . My son has no intrest in model trains or trains ,truth be known. I wish I could get him involved,but his intrest are girls,skateboarding,playstation,computer games. I did have him hooked on MSTS,before the puter crashed. I do think,that once I get the whole layout up and running,he'll want to play with my toys. But only after a very intense training class,on how to handle the trains.

Patrick

Actually you don't need an intense class on how to..... You should stand by him and help him learn the ropes. Note that I didn't say "do it for him". Just be there and help him make good decisions on his own. Adults (as has been mentioned here in other threads) in our world today tend to either let a kid go it completely alone and then are totally pi$$ed that the kid messed up, or do everything for them and wonder why they lost interest. Neither route will produce the best results.

[railroadyoshi]

I like trains[:P]...
Anyways, yah. The only way to get them involved is to well, involve them!

[Anonymous]

Here are a few things I've done to get my kids involved.

-- I let my son choose the layout. He wanted mountains, a tunnel, bridges and a river. He chose the Turtle Creek Central.

-- I buy inexpensive Athearn Blue Boxes for my kids to run and keep my Atlas and Stewart locomotives in my sock drawer.

-- Replace the standard couplers with kadees on all locomotives and rolling stock. Nothing will turn them off faster than trains that become unhooked.

[lesterperry]

QUOTE: Let's look at this another way... Would you have let that 10 or 11 year old come by himself? Without an adult family member? Even if he had been there before with family or during one of those tours and you knew that he wouldn't damage anything.. Would you INVITE him? Again, in the same senerio.. Personally I wouldn't.. Not in todays world.. You hit it on the head when you said the kid brought his grandfather.. It is the Families that must get them involved or at least support them in persuing (sp?) the hobby.

I don't understand your point. The child had to be brought by his grandfather as he can't drive yet. As far as damage goes it is hard to damage something on my R.R. by running trains. Now with a hammer you could. My point is I let kids run trains during open house, they love it. These same kids want to come back. These same kids when I don't have open house get parents or grandparents to call me. Now give this some thought. How persistant would you child have to be to get you to call a stranger asking to see thier trains again?
Now I am a little more accessable than most as I help put the open house scheduale together and my e-mail & phone number is published with it as a contact person. My point is if we want them to be interested in this great hobbie then we must invite them into our world. Give them the controls. There are other controls on most model railroads (power switches, block controls, turnout controls,ect) that you can prevent any major catastrophy if you watch.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lesterperry



I don't understand your point. The child had to be brought by his grandfather as he can't drive yet. As far as damage goes it is hard to damage something on my R.R. by running trains. Now with a hammer you could.

Forget about the kid driving, that's side stepping the question... Let me make it a little closer.. What if he lived next door?? Would you invite or let him over, unescorted?? My answer to that question, is no way in He11. I don't think the point is very difficult to understand. Damage can occur just by grabbing things, which kids ( and adults) are known to do.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

I still don't get your point either! What are you getting at, that kids shouldn't beinvited to run trains, or that nobody should, I am lost.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with everyone who is inviting kids into hobby... my own kids have been operating my DCC layout since they were 5. They've grown up with the layout, and are more careful that some adults. At shows, I frequenlty let kids switch in our club's freight yard.

The keys as I see them.... good track work, good running locomotives, and clearly marked layout controls. These factors will make it more enjoyable for the kids.

PS... if you see my kids, don't tell them I adjusted the DCC speed curves on their engines! :)

[CP5415]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lesterperry
[LET THEM PLAY WITH YOUR TRAINS.

I also agree with that.
I wasn't allowed to get near my Dad's stuff until much later in life.
It wasn't until my late 20's that I got back into the hobby.

I daughter is allowed to handle MOST of my trains. There are some that she's not allowed touch as these have detail parts I like to keep attached or they were given to me by my Dad.
The same rules will apply to my son when he's old enough.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm...many of these points are very interesting. Would ya'll like the opnion of a kid? Well, here it is: I think that encouragement from older memebers of the hobby is crucial. I still remember when the guys at Wistle Stop Trains (Oklahoma City) repaired a broken coupler free of charge...because of that and other small favors, I go there often, even though i know where I could get stuff alot cheaper. And for a kid that has no set allowance and who's lawnmowing buisness is always in the red [:D], that can be a sacrifice. I hate it when older guys treat me like I know nothing because I am younger...Then I ask them some complex question about operation is Western Oklahoma in 1957.....Or comment on how that SD70 is pulling pullman sleepers...While I don't have a layout, I do give little kids, including my little brothers, the throttle of my trains, under supervision. I do get a little worried about stuff getting broken, but I have never had any bad experince, and seeing their faces light up is always worth while. I have some friends who have inherited a small layout from their dad, and have asked me to help them fix it up and get it into running condition, buit other than that, i have seen little interest in this hobby, besides Thomas the Tankengine (who is very cool, by the way), amongst younger people. One turn off to teens, I think, is price...I have not bought new Model railroad equipment in about a year, due to the fact that whenver I do get a little money (rarley more than $40), I have somthing else to pay for. Even if I did not go on retreats or mission trips with my church yputh group ( which my parents have me pay half for), It would do little good with today's model railroading prices. While some of this canot be helped, I am sure that manufactures could produce low dollar equipment...sure it may not be the best, and it may be without sound, but as long as it runs decently smooth and looks good, I could care less. I was amazed when I saw that it is possible to but Bachmann E-Z command for only $60 (I plan on asking for that and a bunch of E-Z track for Christmas) And though "This is one step to making the hobby more teen friendly. I think, however, that this industry only grow more teen friendly, if teens can prove themselves a profitable market, which they won't unless stuff is easier and more affordable....so here we have it: the Model railroad industry, slowly killing itself.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

I still don't get your point either! What are you getting at, that kids shouldn't beinvited to run trains, or that nobody should, I am lost.

WHAT is so difficult about it??? The question was and still IS, Would you invite, an Unescorted, under age 18, person, into your home for the sole purpose of exposing him/her to model railroading?

It's fine dandy and great that you are all exposing your OWN kids to the hobby, but what about the kids who do Not have that parental (or grandparent or uncle or aunt) exposure??

And to answer Your question Lotus, I DO NOT let anyone into my house that I don't know. Period. I don't care What thier motivation for wanting to come in is.

[Anonymous]

I thikt MRR clubs should be more open to teenagers many of you don't know how many clubs require your parent to be a member to join! the only clubs I have been welcome at & have liked are in San diego.

[joeyegarner]

Well what I think is. Just make it available for them and some will get it and some just wont!! I have raised 2 boys one is now 22 and the other 19, the oldest just didn't go very far with the whole idea of trains or modeling of any kind, while the youngest is buying his first P2K just last week. Now for a little more news on the subject, my 2and 1/2 year old nephew just loves Uncle Joey's trains.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rolleiman

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

I still don't get your point either! What are you getting at, that kids shouldn't beinvited to run trains, or that nobody should, I am lost.

WHAT is so difficult about it??? The question was and still IS, Would you invite, an Unescorted, under age 18, person, into your home for the sole purpose of exposing him/her to model railroading?

It's fine dandy and great that you are all exposing your OWN kids to the hobby, but what about the kids who do Not have that parental (or grandparent or uncle or aunt) exposure??

And to answer Your question Lotus, I DO NOT let anyone into my house that I don't know. Period. I don't care What thier motivation for wanting to come in is.

So you are convinced any kids are out to destory your layout, why not invite a kid in, I would if I knew them fairly well? Or are you hinting at being accused of illeagle activity?[xx(]

[fwright]

In answer to rolleiman and others - yes, you should invite in the kid who gathered up the courage to ask you - a total stranger - to see/operate your trains because he/she heard you had some really cool train stuff. Are there some risks with doing this? Absolutely, in today's litigous, risk-averse, and wary society. But the risks don't change the fact that it is the right thing to do.

A benefit to bringing the kid in, besides introducing him/her to the hobby, is the role modeling you are doing. If the unescorted, strange kid asked to see the layout, chances are the kid - for whatever reason - does not have a good parental relationship - or the parent would have become involved. So at the moment of asking - like it or not - you are a role model of how an adult behaves and reacts to and in the presence of kids.

As other have said in the thread, until you have a better relationship with the kid, you probably won't want to expose him/her to your most expensive or valuable equipment. At the same time, please remember this is a hobby, aka toys for boys who never grew up! Very few of us depend upon our trains for our survival so if it gets damaged or destroyed it is not the end of the world. And it doesn't go with you when you die, either.

A short true story. I am currently EBaying the best of my father's model railroad equipment because he does not expect to recover his eyesight or health enough to resume the hobby. He is keeping some of his key tools in the hope that he will have enough recovery to take up a limited amount of N scale in his new home. Keeping that spark of hope alive is important to my father, my mother, and I. As I sort through the trains, I am saddened by how much has never been opened or run or built - he never got a medium size layout (13 x 16ft) complete enough to operate it. Then I see a piece that was a Christmas gift or that he built or displayed, and I'm gladdened again. Most of all, I treasure the memories of sharing model railroading with my Dad. He taught me many new skills, and I learned a great deal, both about modeling and about character, because he taught himself from the ground up in the hobby. And finally, I am honored that he trusts me to properly dispose of his equiment. My kids and I are carefully picking out a few pieces to become family heirlooms - pieces that will remind of us of Grandpa. I'm encouraging the kids (11 and 9) to each pick an Athearn BB or Roundhouse to build in memory of him.

Lessons from my story - you can't take it with you, and you never know until much later how much of an impact you have on kids, even in just a few brief moments.

yours in training
Fred Wright

[Anonymous]

Well said Fred!