I have two grandsons that are here with Nana and Papa all the time. The youngest turns two this month, and the oldest turns four in October.
Knowing that both are really a bit too young for electric trains--not in terms of being to operate them, but in terms of giving them proper care during play--I bought them a Brio-type layout a year or so ago, and they spend a lot of time in our sunroom playing with those trains. When Lucas, the oldest, comes downstairs to Papa's office and train room area, he enjoys standing on a stool and watching trains run for a while, but not for a overly long time. That's okay as far as I am concerned, and I can only hope that, as he becomes older, he will want to more actively participate. If he does, that's great! If he doesn't, that's okay, too. I can encourage him, but I definitely will not go beyond just letting him see how much I enjoy the trains, and letting him run them when he wants to, or help with some layout scenery.
Not long ago, Luke came downstairs and said "Papa, I want to show you something." I followed him into the storage area of our basement and he went directly to a boxed set of O gauge Thomas trains that is on the fairly extensive line of train box storage shelves. He went directly to that set (he must have seen it at some time when he was in the basement with Nana) and said he wants me to set it up for him. I have a large assortment of O gauge Thomas, but he pointed out that particular starter set. I promised him I will do that very soon, and that promise will be fulfilled just as soon as I make the finished side of the basement a bit more "safe," not so much for the boys, but for our new pup who I also would like to have down here with me when I'm working. Obviously going to have to make sure nothing chewable is within reach.
I am planning to place a FasTrack layout on the floor in the open area around my main layout so it will be easy for Luke and his brother, Grant, to play with the trains while I am working. It will definitely have concurrent mainlines so they can race their Thomas, Percy, James, etc. trains.
These boys may or may not like trains all that much in their later years, but I'm sure they will remember Papa's love of trains long after I am gone. That, I think , will be just fine!
