Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Building Model Sailboats Made Easy

In a world of video games and TV, many children are growing up without any truly fond memories of childhood. It is very healthy for a child to take on some sort of project and stick with it for a while. It will not only give him or her a sense of pride and accomplishment, but also a good work ethic. So if you are looking for a project to undertake with your child, consider that of building a model sailboat. They are slightly more detailed and involved than the usual model car, and will give your child something to display proudly.

If you are picking out a model sailboat to give to a child in hopes to stir up interest in boating, you will have to be very careful when choosing the model that you will buy. If the child has never built a model before, you will want to choose something that is simple and easy to build for anyone with no previous experience. This way you will not intimidate the child away before he or she has a chance to really get started. At the same time, you want something that will be a moderate challenge.

You should always let the child have a fair chance at completing the model and working through any difficulties which may come up. If you are excited about the project, you may find yourself butting in and being overly helpful. If you build the entire model, the child will learn no new skills. Therefore, only help when explicitly asked, and if you must help then keep your advice minimal. Let the child figure out everything as it happens, and sort out any of the complications that come up with the project.

It may take a while for the final model to be built, and it may be a long process involving lots of frustration and exasperation. But after it is done, your child will feel as though he or she has really accomplished something. Few children are able to build a model sailboat all on their own, and you should emphasize this. It is a great confidence boost for a child, and will create a can-do attitude that will last forever. It will also help you to bond with your child as you discuss how you can solve the problems that come up during construction of the model sailboat.

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