When we were young, we had this childhood dream of being able to build tall buildings, fast cars, and great aircraft. Some of us were able to realize it; some of us weren’t. Many people, however, were able to realize their dream of building these big objects, even if they were on a smaller scale that can fit on a counter top.

The hobby of building scale models of cars, trains, airplanes, ships, and architectural structures still casts its magic today as it has done for hundreds of years. Many children and, in fact, even a lot of grownups, have taken to this great hobby that’s made even more interesting and diverse by thousands of choices available.

Both big and small pairs of hands will have an enjoyable time putting together tabletop scale models of classic and modern ships, trains, cars, trucks, motorcycles, commercial aircraft, military planes, tanks, rockets, dinosaurs, medieval knights, dollhouses, famous structures – and this is just naming a few.

Model building is not only about vicariously realizing a childhood dream; it is about building character. Patience, the ability to focus, and a meticulous eye for even the smallest details are positive qualities every person should possess, and these qualities are cultivated, honed, and developed when one takes up model building. Introducing your children to this fascinating hobby will enable them to acquire these important qualities at a young age.

Assembling and creating a model from several to dozens of pieces provides your child with positive reinforcement. Watch the face of your child light up when they see an RC car they have put together themselves from scratch run for the first time. You cannot put a price tag on this unforgettable moment.

Models come in kit form and are sold in toy stores and hobby shops anywhere. There are even shops that sell nothing but model kits, from the simplest and tiniest to huge and more complex models consisting of dozens, or even hundreds, of pieces.

Model building is a great way for children to spend their leisure time alone as this hobby requires very little supervision, except in cases where strong adhesives are needed to assemble the models. Since this hobby is an indoor activity, your kids are likely to stay home more often and can enjoy their leisure time no matter what the weather is.

Working with your children as they develop interest and skills in model building will not only increase their knowledge of things but, more importantly, create a deeper and lasting bond between you and your kids which, like the hobby itself, can last a lifetime.