Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity Jars, and 22 Other Incredibly Cool Father-Daughter DIY Projects

Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity Jars, and 22 Other Incredibly Cool Father-Daughter DIY Projects

Kindle Edition
227
English
N/A
N/A
06 May
As the editor in chief of MAKE magazine, Mark Frauenfelder has spent years combing through DIY books, but he’s never been able to find one with geeky projects he can share with his two daughters. Maker Dad is the first DIY book to use cutting-edge (and affordable) technology in appealing projects for fathers and daughters to do together. These crafts and gadgets are both rewarding to make and delightful to play with. What’s more, Maker Dad teaches girls lifelong skills—like computer programming, musicality, and how to use basic hand tools—as well as how to be creative problem solvers. The book’s twenty-four unique projects include:
  • Drawbot, a lively contraption that draws abstract patterns all by itself
  • Ice Cream Sandwich Necklace
  • Friendstrument, an electronic musical instrument girls can play with friends
  • Longboard
  • Antigravity Jar
  • Silkscreened T-Shirt
  • Retro Arcade Video Game
  • Host a Podcast
  • Lunchbox Guitar
  • Kite Video Camera

Innovative and groundbreaking, Maker Dad will inspire fathers to geek out with their daughters and help girls cultivate an early affinity for math, science, and technology.

Reviews (74)

Wonderful book for wood-working, electrical and crafts for father daughter (and sons too).

I'm a father of 2 girls (5 and 9 years) who've decided they want to be a construction worker and electrical engineer (respectively) but both are still girls who love girl things. The book is a perfect mix of wood-working, crafting, electrical and computer projects for the ages of my girls as well as much older. For those unfamiliar with electrical work and soldering, the projects start simple and get more complex. Similar goes for the wood-working. At a minimum you need hand tools and a soldering iron ($10). However, a band-saw, chop/miter saw and drill press will make the projects go smoother. To the chagrin of my wife, I am always looking for excuses to buy more power tools. Many of the projects (skateboard, etc) would be of interest to a son as well but about 1/2 are definitely designed for girls.

Geared more towards older children

I almost sent this back but for $10 I'll keep it around. There's a game programing tutorial in here that looked intriguing enough that if it's still relevant when my kid is old enough I may revisit it. There's a few fun day projects for littles but most of the projects are more appropriate for kids 8-ish and beyond. And they'll take longer than a few hours to accomplish. I think I was looking for a more comprehensive book on crafty stuff for my kids who are preschool age (4 and 6). Maybe in another year or so this Maker Dad book will hold more interest for the kiddos.

Great projects for vacations and rainy weekends

My daughters and I love the projects in this book. We're attacking one about each second weekend: so far, we did the anti gravity jar (using old hard disk magnets), the soap project (we're distributing soapy footprints now), and the "friendstrument" (even the baby is amazed). Only thing missing: I'd love to have some "satisfying for children" educational background info on some projects, i.e., presented in a way that would provide suggestions for explaining what's going on to my daughters, such as why the silicon hardens, or why there's a capacitor in the circuit. They don't prepare you for that in grad school! :-)

Solid Fun

This was recommended to me by another dad. Some of the items are a little hard to build but my daughter and I are up for the challenge. Super fun and creative items in here that people love to talk about when they see them. Highly recommended for any DIYer dad.

Nice approach to parent and kid activities

I think Mark F hits just the perfect tone here. Highly motivated parents who already do lots of DIY projects with or without their kids will find plenty of fun things to do here. The less motivated parents who might be new to DIY projects will find good instruction and encouragement, and might actually try some of these projects. I like Mark's "you don't have to be an expert" and " embrace mistakes" attitude. There's a great mix of topics.You and your kids will learn about electronics, wood working, cooking, programming, logic, etc. while you make fun kid-stuff like skateboards, magic trick, snacks, jewelry, and lots more. Fun for moms and sons, too! ; - )

Building and Making

My husband was really tickled to get this. There’s some great ideas and he and our daughter are going to have some real memory building time together!

Great ideas

Great project ideas. Best for older kids.

So many great ideas

Son does crafts like this with his daughters all the time. They sat with their heads together planning how they were going to make some of the items.

Five Stars

Super cute and totally doable ideas. Good difficulty rating scale. Would buy again for other dads!

Five Stars

My daughter and fiancé absolutely loved this! Perfect gift idea

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