Pliers

Hello, I'm a Pair of Pliers. You can find me in the toolbox with my friends, the hammer and the screwdriver. I have two long handles that are perfect for you to squeeze, and a strong mouth that goes pinch, pinch, pinch. My job is to be like super-strong fingers. When something is too tiny for your hands to hold, I can grab it. When a bolt is too tough to turn, I can twist it. I love helping people hold onto things so their fingers stay safe and sound. I am a very helpful friend to have around.

My family is very, very old. A long, long time ago, around 3000 BCE, my great-great-great grandparents were invented. They were called tongs. Back then, people called blacksmiths worked with big, hot fires to make tools. They would heat up metal until it was glowing bright orange. It was much too hot to touch. So, they invented tongs to reach into the fire and safely grab the hot metal. Pinch. The tongs held the metal tight while the blacksmith shaped it. That was the very first idea for me, and I am so proud of my strong ancestors.

Today, my family is bigger than ever. We come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and we each have a special job. My tiny cousins help make shiny jewelry, and my big, strong brothers help build amazing treehouses. If one of your toys has a part that is a little bit wobbly, I can help make it tight and strong again. We all wait together in the toolbox, excited for our next adventure. I am always ready to lend a helping hand and make tricky jobs feel easy and fun for you and your family.