Our son has made nunchucks, wooden and PVC swords, shields, slingshots, and now a PVC bow and arrows. Maturity level has been a major consideration in allowing him to make weaponry. He has also been taught the proper use and storage of his items. I believe that the teaching of Self Government is the key to a home with boys and their weaponry. Abuse of the rules leads to loss of precious items, items that were personally created by the individual and thus are far more precious than store bought toys. The teaching of Self Government with its accompanying consistency in loss of privileges has worked extensively well in all areas of home management, including all areas of parenting boys and girls.
Plus, the making of these items has taught him many math and engineering skills as well as provided hours of physical, non-electronic entertainment.
Some food for thought:
Risk, there is no real living without it. Die we all must, but try to knock all risk out of our lives and we lock ourselves tighter and tighter into a safe, comfortable, deadly box, and we die too, without ever having lived. - Alex Noble
Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education. - David Polis
Now I see the secret of making the best persons, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. - Walt Whitman
The most important education is that which leads to personal survival. - W. I. Thomas
We make a lot of weapons around here too. We also use and play with a lot of weapons. I agree that it is important. Brigham Young has a quote in his quote book by Widstoe about wishing young men had skill in weapons including guns, knives, and swords.
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