Exploring new experiences with my son Lucas often leads me to getting various all-in-one kits. I appreciate these kits because they save me the trouble of gathering materials myself.
Getting inspiration from numerous books on autism, I’ve been focusing on identifying and nurturing Lucas’s strengths. Recently, we delved into woodworking with a kit from Ash and Company, a UK-based business that offers child-friendly woodworking projects.
To make sure Lucas had his own tools, I purchased a mini maker kit from them that included essentials like a hammer, screwdriver, sandpaper, and a hot glue gun. The latter wasn’t initially on my list, given its potential hazards, but fate had other plans. The day the kit arrived, Lucas accidentally tripped over an umbrella, breaking its handle. What a serendipitous introduction to our new hot glue gun!
The Kit becomes the Kitten.
The project was a wooden kitten, involving tasks like sanding, screwing parts together, and adding decorative features. Lucas started enthusiastically by sanding a few edges, but soon he passed the baton to me, saying, “Mummy, do it.”
As we progressed, I found myself being handed more and more tasks, though he enjoyed screwing in the parts and assembling the head.
While I did most of the work, Lucas’s involvement was enough to make the experience enjoyable for both of us. Whether woodworking becomes a lasting interest for him remains to be seen (I have another kit to try out later) but it’s very clear to me that he’s an excellent delegator! Something I’ve known for a while 🙂
What activities bring out the best in your child?
If there’s something on your mind that you would like to discuss, book a complimentary call with me now.
You are not alone
I share my personal stories—some sad, some funny, some out of frustration —to connect with other families on the spectrum. When we received our autism diagnosis, I felt alone. Conversations with other families helped me realize that wasn’t true, we’re not alone.
Know someone navigating family life on the spectrum? Please share this story with them. And if you’re a family on the spectrum looking for support, consider downloading my free PDF, “5 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Family on the Spectrum’s Anxiety”.