Since my mother took us in the divorce (age 13), I did my hobby stuff on my own, on my school desk on weekends and in cold weather, and out on a balcony during warmer weather. She encouraged it, but couldn't really add much. When I later had two rooms, I kitted out the second room with a 'workbench' (old door on two saw horses) and some of my father's old tools that he had left behind.
Give them some catalogs (Edmund, Estes, Allelectronics, Smarthome, etc.) and see what floats their boats. I think I'd try and start them with something that sparked their interest, and in the course of exploring with them and 'guiding' their early efforts, I'd answer their questions about the hobbies I was passionate about. I joined a local model rocketry club in 9th grade, and attended meetings a few times a month. We were involved in regional competitions - parents took turns schlepping us around to weekend meets a few times a year.
At a minimum, you need a hobbyist (clean) jawvise, flat and sturdy cutting surface, setting gluding surface(s), someplace to sand stuff, good lighting. Basic tools, like X-Acto handles and blades, steel rule, smallish drivers. Over time, I added a Dremel and specialty tools I saw others using. For electronics tools, a low-wattage soldering iron, a DVM, needlenose pliers, hand tools, desoldering tools, and some fun kits to start. Even before the kits, something simple to practice soldering and desoldering, to learn how not to fry components (always my gumption trap).
On balance, the Blackberry helps me, it doesn't burden me. For me at least, a Product Manager working from a home office, my employer is generally not the demanding entity. It's my customers (independent distributor/manufacturer's reps), and their customers (building owners, design/build engineering companies). It's a global economy out there, and they can chose to go to someone else. All too often, somebody decides they need a bid on my products just before some deadline. Yeah, they're knuckleheads for not requesting a bid earlier. But, the issue isn't who left it to the last minute, since it happens all the time and I cannot influence proactive/responsible behavior in people several links removed from me. The issue is, if I have the energy, and it doesn't impact family plans, then I can chose to respond. Voila, superior service. Without the Blackberry, I would not have had the option. If I chose not to reply, well, they sent the request after hours (my hours, not necessarily theirs). Not to mention being able to move work requests along while travelling, running errands, etc. For my situation, the Blackberry enlarges freedom, it does not decrease personal time.
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Since my mother took us in the divorce (age 13), I did my hobby stuff on my own, on my school desk on weekends and in cold weather, and out on a balcony during warmer weather. She encouraged it, but couldn't really add much. When I later had two rooms, I kitted out the second room with a 'workbench' (old door on two saw horses) and some of my father's old tools that he had left behind.
Give them some catalogs (Edmund, Estes, Allelectronics, Smarthome, etc.) and see what floats their boats. I think I'd try and start them with something that sparked their interest, and in the course of exploring with them and 'guiding' their early efforts, I'd answer their questions about the hobbies I was passionate about. I joined a local model rocketry club in 9th grade, and attended meetings a few times a month. We were involved in regional competitions - parents took turns schlepping us around to weekend meets a few times a year.
At a minimum, you need a hobbyist (clean) jawvise, flat and sturdy cutting surface, setting gluding surface(s), someplace to sand stuff, good lighting. Basic tools, like X-Acto handles and blades, steel rule, smallish drivers. Over time, I added a Dremel and specialty tools I saw others using. For electronics tools, a low-wattage soldering iron, a DVM, needlenose pliers, hand tools, desoldering tools, and some fun kits to start. Even before the kits, something simple to practice soldering and desoldering, to learn how not to fry components (always my gumption trap).
On balance, the Blackberry helps me, it doesn't burden me. For me at least, a Product Manager working from a home office, my employer is generally not the demanding entity. It's my customers (independent distributor/manufacturer's reps), and their customers (building owners, design/build engineering companies). It's a global economy out there, and they can chose to go to someone else. All too often, somebody decides they need a bid on my products just before some deadline. Yeah, they're knuckleheads for not requesting a bid earlier. But, the issue isn't who left it to the last minute, since it happens all the time and I cannot influence proactive/responsible behavior in people several links removed from me. The issue is, if I have the energy, and it doesn't impact family plans, then I can chose to respond. Voila, superior service. Without the Blackberry, I would not have had the option. If I chose not to reply, well, they sent the request after hours (my hours, not necessarily theirs). Not to mention being able to move work requests along while travelling, running errands, etc. For my situation, the Blackberry enlarges freedom, it does not decrease personal time.