For the Kids: Build a Mini-Foosball Table This Saturday

It's Saturday morning and your five-year-old has been up since 5 a.m. asking you to play. What to do? Go to the park. Set him or her to weeding the garden. Or—just maybe—head to Home Depot for a little mother-father/son-daughter bonding.

This Saturday, June 5, at The Home Depot in Vauxhall, parents and children will have that opportunity to bond for free (or while supplies last) at a Kids Workshop making mini-soccer game tables.

The Home Depot company has been hosting these Kids Workshops—and providing parents with meaningful, cheap Saturday morning activities for their children—since 1997. The program at the Vauxhall store will run from 9 a.m. until noon or, again, while supplies last. Children 5-12 are welcomed to participate at no cost, although each child must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program.

Maplewood's Sean Harrington, who attended one of the monthly workshops with his son, Brady, said: "It wasn't very structured in that it didn't require you to sit through someone give detailed instruction on how to build. Everyone was able to work at their own pace which was nice. The mix of ages was great to see. My son being a little over 2 years old was one of the younger ones there." (Hmmm, guess they're not too tough on that age 5-12 requirement.)

While the Kids Workshops began with constructing toolboxes and basic picture frames, when The Home Depot sponsored a NASCAR race team in 1999, the company also developed an orange #20 The Home Depot racecar for the Kids Workshop. Other recent projects at the Vauxhall store have included a bird house, a butterfly house, a race car display shelf, a valentine napkin holder, an airplane, a boat, a jewelry box, and a calendar.

According to Jen King, senior manager of public relations for the Vauxhall store, "Along with their newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin." According to Harrington, more experienced kids "finished their project quickly and earned the Home Depot project pin to add to their collection. The pins are like Boy Scout badges on an orange Home Depot apron."

King added, "The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill in them a sense of accomplishment and building self-esteem."

"I feel the project has also added to his fondness of tools in general. Anytime I'm using a hammer or screwdriver my little guy always wants to be involved," said proud pappa Harrington. King noted that the program allows for invaluable one-on-one time between adults and children. Harrington concurred: "On the weekend, I try to spend as much time with my son as possible. I saw this as another opportunity to create another special time with him."

The store plans to host the Kids Workshop the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. They shoulc at least two attendees: Said Harrington, "I will definitely try to attend again."

The July project has not been announced yet, but customers can access the Kids Workshop schedule here.