Best Advice for new PWD Parents

[3phase]

If it's your very first PWD, I would recommend building a car by yourself without the kids. That would really help get some of the wrinkles out when you have your kid work on their car.
I understand there is value on learning together, but something about when a child can see the confidence in the parent and not the frustration.

If more experienced builders have something to add, that would be great.

 

[Mojo Racing]

Solid advice... Also... challenge your kid to a race... It will help them focus a little more and want to do a better job.

When I coach cubs in the area, I challenge all of them to a race... if they can beat my car, they can have it... It is funny, because at pack races, they are looking forward to our race afterward than to the race they have with the pack. It is a lot of fun.

I try to get cubmasters to do this with the pack (maybe not pinks, but to challenge the kids to a race) and none of them build a car. Imagine the competition if they were to challenge the kids... plus, if the kids / dads have questions during the build, and haven't been on the forums, the cubmasters can help them with the solutions.

 

[Racing358t]

Solid advice... Also... challenge your kid to a race... It will help them focus a little more and want to do a better job.

When I coach cubs in the area, I challenge all of them to a race... if they can beat my car, they can have it... It is funny, because at pack races, they are looking forward to our race afterward than to the race they have with the pack. It is a lot of fun.

I try to get cubmasters to do this with the pack (maybe not pinks, but to challenge the kids to a race) and none of them build a car. Imagine the competition if they were to challenge the kids... plus, if the kids / dads have questions during the build, and haven't been on the forums, the cubmasters can help them with the solutions.

Cool story!

You ever "lost" or "made it a close race" to one one of the kiddo's? I know my son is motivated to beat me at anything we do. He tells me all the time that he is gonna beat me in bowling. I tell him I know he will if he keeps on practicing and improving and that I'd be happy for and proud of him. I haven't let him win but it's been "close" a few times Keeps him motivated.

Scott

 

[Mojo Racing]

Not beaten yet... I ask what the Cub Scout Motto is. They scramble but reply, "Do your best!"... and I tell them they need to do their best, because I will be doing mine... and I didn't hold back.

Some of them get close by their standards.... by mine? Not too close. LOL

 

[Brian Stanley]

Not beaten yet... I ask what the Cub Scout Motto is. They scramble but reply, "Do your best!"... and I tell them they need to do their best, because I will be doing mine... and I didn't hold back.

Some of them get close by their standards.... by mine? Not too close. LOL

I like that you give them no quarter! Put your best effort out, and let what happens, happen!

 

[Mojo Racing]

I don't build participation trophies. Lol

 

[Bubblegum]

Maybe it should be required that those who write the scout rules have to do the same thing.

I bet it would solve many of the issues discussed here.

 

[davet]

The young kids just want a cool car. I let my boy pick the designs. We had an 8-wheeled tank, a round missile then he wanted fast and we moved to thin cars. I say let him pick anything he wants for his design. Listen to what people say here for speed advice and discuss with your son how you might be able to make his design fast.

My son's attention span was short the first couple years. I may have had a free hour to work on, say, wheels and axles. He would get bored or distracted after one or two axles. This was frustrating for me that first year and we ended up rushing in the end. This was my lesson in patience and better planning.

Start the car as soon as you get the kits. Don't get in a position where you're rushing because you will get stressed and he'll see it and not want to work with you. This way if it breaks or you want a change you have time.

I believe in working with the boy and not just making them do it all and end up with a car they aren't proud of. Just because they do all the work doesn't mean they will like it or be proud of it. He will be more proud of the car if you work on it with him and it looks the way want it to look.

Use the car building process to show them how to use the tools and understand friction concepts. Always safety first of course.

Don't get too picky yourself on how the processes are completed. If you do, you won't be happy with how axles or wheels turn out. You will either nit-pick the kid to get him to do better or you'll "touch them up" after he goes to bed.

Tell him why its a bad idea to play with the car during the build and after its completed. Let him play with it after the last race you qualify for.

If you are rear weighted show him how to pick it up so he doesn't drop it.

You will have your weights installed in or on the car. Then, you will have tuning weight to help get it close to the 5.0 or 5.05 weight you want. We always left ourselves with needing .10-.15 oz of tuning weight and we always used tungsten putty for this. We would add the putty at home until we hit the exact weight we wanted. Before the race, show your son how to remove putty or add putty. Bring a small flat screwdriver with you. If your son's car is over weight he will know how and where to remove a tiny chuck of putty.

Let your son carry his car to the check-in table. We had a small box with a block of wood in the bottom that his car could rest on and wheels wouldnt touch. He just had to carry the box in and open it on the table. No risk of dropping it this way. It also added a little excitement because there are always the dads hanging around check-in to see the competition. My son would open his box and take his car out and oohs and ahhs would make him smile. Me too. lol

To make cool, flat cars you might do this:
-Find a picture of something your son would like his car to look like. My avatar has a lightning bolt because he wanted a lightning bolt car. Favorite sports team logo, favorite cartoon character, picture of his dog, etc.
-Size it on the computer to the size of the top of the car.
-Print it out on photopaper then spray the whole picture with glossy clear coat from local hardware store.
-Let it dry for a couple days. Any less and you can get fingerprint marks in it.
-Cut it out to fit the body but with about 1/2" extra all around so you can handle it.
-Use Elmers or any other slow setup glue and spread the glue thinly on the car.
-Place the pic on the car and then place the car upside down on a flat surface like a table with a towel under it. The excess glue will squeeze out the sides but get caught by the excess paper on the sides. Without the excess paper on the sides the glue will squeeze out and get onto the top of the picture and muck it up.
-Put some books on top of it and leave it over night to dry.
-The next day use a razor knife to cut the excess off from around the body.
-Polish with car polish just before installing the wheels and axles.