I think half of my husband’s life is spent at Lowe’s. We’ve had lots of home projects, so it makes sense. We’ve redone our downstairs living room, the half bathroom, the laundry room/office/storage, the kids’ bedrooms, put in a new kitchen/family room, and built a deck off the back of the house. We are currently planning a refurb of our bathroom. Maybe we just should have bought a new house. Ha! Anyhow, hubby has headed up most of these projects himself with help from family and friends. Watching him work, I am reminded of the importance of having skills for wiring, woodworking, and putting up drywall. I’d like for my kids to have basic skills, or at least be exposed to various types of home repair work. That is why I totally dig the Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics. I believe it whets their little appetites for bigger projects down the road.
The clinics help kids learn how to read directions, check their supplies list, and actually build a project with the proper tools. Most, if not all, are wood-based and kid-friendly – on the day we went, my kids built the dragon from Shrek. The clinics are free and I signed up online at the Lowe’s Build and Grow site (I think they take walk-ins, too). We checked in with the Lowe’s associate, and he handed each child a kit with the wooden pieces/parts, nails, directions, and stickers to add details to the dragon. The kit was complete with cardboard wings, and a tiny little Shrek and Donkey that sat on the dragon’s back for a ride. My kids also got an apron they could keep and wear to a future workshop, a hammer to help put the dragon together, and once they completed the project, a patch to iron onto the apron. The patch helps kids keep track of the projects they built, and I think is a great way to help them feed proud of their accomplishments.
Lowe’s had a form to fill out, which you can get when you sign up online or at the store itself. It basically stated that Lowe’s can’t be held responsible if your child hammers a nail into his or her finger. We
handed that form to the guy when we signed in, got all our stuff, and chose a table to work. The whole thing took less than an hour, and was a great less than an hour to spend with my hubby and children. Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics are offered a couple of times a month on Saturday or Sundays, and are free. Look here to see dates and what the current projects are: Lowe’s Build and Grow. Then sign up, show up, and have fun!
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics
locations vary
“Gotta get out of bed and use a hammer and nails…”:
- Sign up online at the Lowe’s Build and Grow site. You’ll enter your zip and can find the nearest store, plus it guarantees you a spot.
- Plan to help your child put the project together, and be patient.
- The earlier you go to the time it starts, the less crowded it will be.
- Maybe Lowe’s isn’t the closest to you, Home Depot also offers free workshops. Check out my post about them here: Kids Workshops at Home Depot.
