Lowe's Build and Grow

This is probably one of the best hidden and FREE things for the kids to do every other Saturday morning (a little breather, right?). The Lowe's hardware stores do what's called a Lowe's "Build and Grow" clinics. They're "little" projects that you and you child can do together at participating Lowe's hardware store. We've done four projects so far which range from cute little golf practice holes, treasure chest, helicopter and just a couple days ago, a power boat ("rubber band" powered that is..)

The beauty here is that they, Lowe's, supply EVERYTHING..no joke..down to the work vest and goggles..which you get to keep. So far everything has been completed with just a hammer (they supply a mini-hammer) and I expect things won't change. It's easy right?! All the kid has to do is "bang" away, and it does get noisy with 50 mini-hammers banging at once.

Here are the projects we did over so far:



You also get a certificate and a really nice embroidered patch for the respective projects completed. The patches rock!



The quality of the projects are fantastic (I read the packaging and looks like they are made in Irvine, not some mass production warehouse place overseas) and everything you need is all pre-packaged down to the mini blueprints, wood and tiny nails (..imagine IKEA, but on a much smaller scale) and fit.

Each project takes no longer than maybe 15 minutes to complete, but some took a little than expected..like the treasure chest which took 30 minutes (4 hammer job)..but some were as quick as 5 minutes..or maybe it's better to say "1 hammer" job (5 minutes).

Tips:

1. Sign up online. A must! It's your guarentee that a project package will be saved for your child when you bring in the printed waiver form from your computer. Each Lowe's gets only 50 kits per project day, and they go like hotcakes the day of..not kidding.

2. Get there a little early. It seems many parents try to jump in (why not? I would too if I saw all this fun), but firsts dibs go to the folks that signed up first. (Caveat/NOTE TO LOWE's: depending on which store assistant is helping out makes ALL the difference! When they're distributing the project kits in an orderly fashion things are good, when they just open the boxes..well..imagine an unattended free bread line in some third world nation..it get's..well..crazy).

3. Bring a little hammer (unless you get there early to grab one, otherwise you're going to have to play the waiting game..and you know how that goes with the little ones..like the "are we there yet?" routine.).

All in all, it's a super fun time for free..and you can't beat that in today's economy.