A woman I used to work with has a son who is ten years old, and she is teaching him to drive (his dad is a diabetic and they live out in the sticks). He already has his own hatchet and has been taught how to handle it safely. He has a decent-sized fixed blade knife. He makes his own spears and once managed to spear a fish (he was very proud). He finds old appliances in trash occasionally, and brings them home so his dad can show him how they work.

But more important than that, they've taught him to think for himself. He learned the hard way that listening to advice from a peer that he KNOWS is bad, is going to have poor results.

He also has a small pet-sitting business (although dad goes along just to make sure he locks up and that nothing appears to be wrong at the house).

I wish more parents put more thought into raising their children. Poor kids...

Sue