On occasion I have 2 of my DGKs help me clean the dirtiest of machines. They have to share their
own tool box. They know where it is kept. They know it is theirs. Wilbur likes a couple of the same screw drivers I do so I learned to look there for screwdrivers if he has been around...
He is very partial to Tri-Flow so I have an empty bottle just for him. (He is a bit generous with oil.) The tool box has pipe cleaners, artist brushes, tooth brushes, mascara brushes, big paint brush, little paint brush, Qtips, tooth picks, 1 screwdriver, measuring tape, ruler, pincushion (I'm not sure how it got there), forceps, tweezers, bits of t-shirts cut into rags, empty condiment bottle for blowing out lint, and I am looking for more ideas. They fight over the same brush I don't know why. I only have one screw driver in there because I'm afraid if I'm not looking Wilbur will use it when he is not suppose to. He is pretty good most of the time though. I have a machine the kids can pull screws out of to their hearts content. (no it is not a T&S) Next week Wilbur will be coming over to help pull parts off a machine for Joe - Joe doesn't want a whole machine he wants parts... Joe was concerned that Wilbur would strip threads and tear up screw slots. We all do that but he isn't that strong yet. He is only 4 so it is all he can do some times to just get the screw in or out. He loves to try. It will be great practice for him to remove parts with out losing pieces or damaging them. We will have better screw drivers and little zip bags added to his tool box for that occasion. It amazes me how seriously the kids take the work on the machines and it's parts & their tools. It amazes me how much they have learned. While they can't physically do everything they sure have looked and watched and talked about what things do. Last time he was here, Wilbur helped me clean out a bobbin area. He was speechless as we did it. I had to make him talk about what we were doing so I could know if he was understanding. He can also take apart and put a balance wheel the right way if he can get the screws loose... He only can do those things with me around. He is very good about keeping his hands where they are suppose to go.
Mike, I am going to add HOSE to Wilbur's tool box - I know Wilbur already listens to every machine but he will love the hose idea. Thank you. Early on I taught him how to oil by listening as well as looking for moving parts and oil holes. He heard his rocking horse squeaking the next day so he tried to 'oil' it with a bottle of Dawn. At least he was only trying to put one drop on each little crack and hole so we assume he was oiling - the Dawn did come out a bit fast for him though...