Trying to teach my 10yo some basic home repair skills. Asked him to help me fix the deck and patch some holes in the drywall. He lasted about 20 minutes before wanting to go do something else. I remember helping my dad with stuff like this as a kid and actually enjoying it. How do you guys motivate them without it turning into a battle?
Yeah the deck project sounds boring to him. You have to meet them where they're at. My son got way more into helping when we started working on stuff he cared about instead of just my projects. Have you asked what he'd actually want to build or fix?
Haha, 20 minutes sounds about right. My kid just got his yellow belt and still won't stick with anything that doesn't feel like instant success. Persistence pays off though, keep at it.
Twenty minutes is actually better than I expected from a 10yo. Some assembly required always falls on me anyway, but at least you're trying to teach him early.
The thing with 10yos is they have zero patience for stuff that doesn't give immediate results. Deck repair takes forever. Maybe start with smaller projects that have quick wins so he gets the satisfaction of finishing something.
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My 10yo was the same way until I made it actually fun. Instead of asking him to help, I framed it like I needed his specific skills. Kids that age want to feel important and useful, not like they're being punished with chores.