Summer is a great time to turn off the TV and go outside, or least that’s what I yell at my kids every day. Recently, my daughter decided to build a porch swing that she saw on Pinterest. The most difficult part of the process was getting organized.

Before starting any project, you need to read the directions thoroughly, gather your supplies, read the directions thoroughly, gather your tools, and read the directions thoroughly. Sensing a pattern here? Unfortunately, while the directions seemed fine at first glance, as we got moving on it we noticed that they could have been better and had to make some decisions on the fly. The best thing we did for ourselves, though, was to have the lumberyard cut the lumber to the sizes that we needed. It was only about 40 cents per cut, and totally worth it.

Here are some fun projects you might try building at home this month:

A popsicle stick lantern is cute, easy, and perfect for your little one’s first project. If you don’t happen to have all the supplies at home already, one quick trip to the store should do it. You need: wax paper, crayons, popsicle sticks, scissors, glue dots or double sided tape, hot glue, and an iron. Instead of a regular candle, you’ll want to use one that is battery operated. Assembly instructions are online at crafty.house/popsicle-stick-lantern/.

When Home Depot had to suspend their in-person Kid Workshops, they decided to give out kits to customers to complete at home. May’s project, for kids 5 and up, was a prepackaged mirror vanity that might appeal more to girls than boys. At this writing they were still handing it out. The kit comes complete with everything except a hammer, wood glue, and sandpaper. We didn’t use the sandpaper or the wood glue. The directions were clear, the holes were predrilled, and the mess was minimal. It’s an easy, one-hour activity. Call Hermiston Home Depot at 541-567-9890 to see if these are still available.

This next project is perfect as a teacher gift or something to control the clutter on your child’s desk — it’s a “ruler basket.” You’ll need six 12” rulers, a 12” piece of 1×4, two 6” 1x4s, wood glue, and nails. If you already own a drill, you’ll find it easier to pre-drill the holes with a small bit. If you don’t own one, you can still manage without. For details, go online to bit.ly/ruler_basket.

A birdhouse is the quintessential woodworking project for kids, isn’t it? Seems simple, but does require some pre-work. You’ll need: one 3/8” dowel rod 8” long, one 4” diameter perforated PVC pipe cut 5” long, two #212 eye hooks, one 1×6 piece of pine (or cedar or whatever) cut into two 5-1/2” squares, 12” of wire or small chain for hanging, and one 3/16“ fir plywood piece cut into rectangles, 6” x 8” and 5-13/16” x 8”. See how this is getting more complicated? Finally, grab some 1”nails or brads for assembly. The preparation will take at least as long as the assembly, so this might be more of a two-day project, three if you want to paint it. Complete instructions with pictures are at www.skiptomylou.org/diy-birdhouse/.

This last project is the toughest, but will perhaps be the most used. It’s advertised as a soccer goal, which is great if your kids are into soccer. If you have kids with BB guns or Nerf guns, it can easily serve as a target with some quick modifications. Simply leave off the net and drill 3 to 6 holes down through the top beam, across the length of it. Hang brightly painted tin cans by poking a hole in the bottom of each of the cans, and then slipping twine through the beam holes and the holes in the cans. Hang them at different lengths across the opening. You can download the plans at bit.ly/soccer_goal.

According to the experts, woodworking can reduce anxiety and stress, improve mental sharpness, boost your mood, build muscle, improve your math skills, and increase fine motor control. After the last few months we’ve had, what’s not to love about that?

________

Suzanne Kennedy is a former middle school teacher who lives in Pendleton with her husband and four children.