Kids in construction

I dont have kids but why not try bringing them out on the jobsite occasionally? You should be able to tell if the enjoy being there or not. As you can trust them with more dangerous things allow them to cut something that isnt important and get them more involved. Be their source of summer employment.

I worked for my uncle in summers and weekend throughout H.S. I also worked summers and weekends in college until I found myself in class thinking about work and how to do something better and quicker. Then once I started to wish I was on the jobsite when it was a nice day out, I knew what path I should take to make me happy.

They'll figure it out. I did and all I needed was a little help from my parents on not making too many dumb life decisions and when I did, letting me deal with the consequences.

I was raised in construction, am 3rd gen. My first job was humping shingles across the roof at 12 years old. This was actually punishment for screwing around in school, loved every minute of it. I use to ride my bike to the job site after work to help out if only for a couple hours Was very eager to learn and do what ever I could.

Was running a crew by 16, but by this time I THOUGHT I knew everything. Was a dick until 18 then went to collage for auto body. Worked part time in cunstruction for pops until 21 trying other jobs as I went. Was a in metal fab, welder, sign maker, landscaper, R/C car biz, auto body etc.... But always had the desire to do construction. From 21 to present I have been in construction full time and love it.

My brother on the other hand worked 2 summers when he was 17 and 18. Never wanted anything to do with construction. Refused to help most times more interested in computers.

Basically they will fallow what ever they want to do if it is construction or some thing else. Personally I would bring them there and see if they enjoy it or if the stand there texting all day.

Cole

Every summer, since I was about 10 years old, I would spend working with my father on his construction projects. First few years mainly as a tool fetcher, (Hurry up!! I need that @#%%& screwdriver now!!) and slowly going to puttin on the toolbelt and measuring blocks and nailing boards. He seemed to teach me a lot of fundamentals early, which helped a lot, but I remember wanting to spend those summers hangin out with my friends and not sweatin it out on a construction site getting sworn at by my father. I actually remember being on jobs as early as 5 years old, but I dont think that I was much help back then. I have an 11 year old son now and I really haven't taken him with me very much because I figure that I'm gonna let him choose if he wants to go do construction instead of being forced to go like my dad did with me. Dont get me wrong, I love the construction trade, but I also wanted to be a kid and play instead of work as a kid. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that today's my sons 11th birthday!:happybday:

Parents have shown their young how to do things since the beginning of time, how is this even a question?

Like many here, i feel you can never educate a youth too much, the more they know the better they can make an informed descion later in their life, but it's upto us to make sure we pass along as much information as we can so when the time comes in their life, they can handle it- intelligently.

I have my 8yr old girl with me every chance i get, she gets made fun of for being a "tom boy" because she likes to play outside, does'nt worry about getting dirty and is authoritive (sees dad barking orders and she has my personality...sadly LOL) but i have no problems teaching her as much as i can, and i pray she uses all of this knowledge and goes to school for a worthwhile profession, because by and large, this crap is a dead end job:laughing: Think of all the rich/successful "carpenters" you know........

I raised three boys while be a GC. Always thought I would have at least one interested in the trades but that didn't play out.

They were all exposed in many ways and even got hired for a few things by me. Fired the youngest one day when he was eight. Fired the oldest and his friend off a straw bale house job for sucking beyond belief. He was 15. Those were some fun times.:laughing:

What I did not understand at the time is that they did not need nor want to learn my trade. It was my secret little dream to have a son tagging along and striving to be a younger version of me. Looking back I wish I was a little wiser through all of that.

The pure gem that was being planted and cultivated out of my view was that they all were learning what a good work ethic looks like. They all have come to me and my wife and thanked us for teaching them how to work and be responsible and how they can notice how much better equipped they are than their piers at handling responsibility.

So even though in the moment there seemed to be little knowledge being passed on, the seeds were planted in fertile soil. We are very proud of them and have very few regrets about the way they were raised. I can't think of better result.

Teach them all you can while you have the chance.

My father used to drop a dictionary on my chest every night before bed and make me pick a word, spell it, and use it in a sentence before I could go to sleep. People would ask him "Joe, why do you do that"?"

His reply..."because I dont want me kid waking up dumber than he was before he went to bed."

True story. BTW, he was an Albany NY Firemen.

I learned the trades from my uncles. Electrician and Master Plumber. Both were also builders. I owe my success to all of them.

However, I still cant spell, but I can build one hell of a house.

Good luck man...

When I was a kid my father brought me to jobsites quite a bit. He did driveways & lawns. I would ride my bike around these new neighborhoods having a ball. As I got older I started working usually pushing a wheelbarrow. I liked it because I was getting paid.

I really started liking construction when my father started buying bigger equipment. It took me a long time to figure why he didn't let me operate when i was younger. He wanted me to see things from a laborers point of view.

What's funny is that he always encouraged me to go to college & get a job working more with my brain & less with my body. I went to business school & half way thru I knew I wouldn't like the type of jobs that my friends were getting. Transferred & got 2 year degree in construction technologies.

It's been 16 years since I got out of college & I can say that the most enjoyable part of my job is working for with my father. Working with family can be tough but it is well worth it. My father semi retired 2 years ago but still goes to jobsite regularly helping out when needed. I like being able to run different things by him.
Just the other day we were talking about where we saw the company in the future & I told him that I was thinking about a change. He agreed & reminded me that he had "told me so" a few years ago.


My advice to you would be to teach your kids everything you can if they are interested. If there not interested you can still show them how a good work ethic is needed in any line of work.:thumbsup:

i was also raised in construction.not only masonry but in carpentry.my dad and uncle had a partnership,my uncle ran the carpentry crew.while dad did the masonry end.was always on the job getting into everybodys hair.mom had a cow the time she drove up and caught me on the roof at age 5.at 14 i was "working"all summer.got a check every week that 90% of went into savings.paid cash for my 1st pickup.at 16 i was working after school everyday.at 18 i was running our rock plant.at 21 was running the plant and our fireplace shop.at 26 got tired of the business and opened a resturant/bar,didnt work so went back into masonry.when my dad died i started my own company with the knowledge needed to operate it.
now my son is 13.i told him i would teach him how to lay brick,ect.....but i want him to go to college and not be in this business.since we live 20 miles apart,he only is able to come on the job when he is with me or i am doing work in his town.
my advice would be let them make up their own minds as to wiether they want to work the business or not.dont force them into anything,you will regret it.