Those who are woodworkers know: the best teacher is time. The more experienced a woodworker, the better he generally is at his craft.  That’s why it’s important for those interested to get started as early as possible. On this page you will find 8 of the easiest woodworking projects for kids.

Although many might not generally think of woodworking as a child’s hobby, it can actually be a wonderful educational and recreational past time for kids of nearly all ages.

Whether you’re a school shop teacher looking for projects or an interested parent looking to share his passion, you know that it may seem a bit tricky to find age-appropriate woodworking projects.

But the simple truth is this: all it takes is a little creativity to turn any woodworking project into a fun and educational lesson. As you’ll see from the several projects listed below, you can use woodworking as an avenue to teach other subjects as well, making it appropriate both in and out of the classroom.

I’ve put together eight of some of the most-exciting woodworking projects for kids in a list below.

Covered Wagon

Something about myself…

When I was in fourth grade, I had an advanced discovery class, and we chose a particular theme to study throughout the year. The teacher thought it would be interesting to pretend to be pioneers, and we started a semester-long project that let our little imaginations run wild.

We were pioneers, travelling in our covered wagons from the East Coast to the West Coast. In doing so, we’d “stop” in several states along the way and research some significant historical information.

In order to do this, of course, we had to have a wagon.

Instead of buying a covered wagon from a store, my dad decided we would make the wagon ourselves. The project was so fun that I can still remember that wagon today.

If you’re looking for simple, easy woodworking projects for kids or simply for something educational, this wagon is a great choice. Set a child’s imagination free and take them back to pioneer days with a wagon they built themselves (with a little help from you, of course).

About the woodworking project

The project itself is simple, but it can be as complex as you’d like it, making it great for woodworkers of all levels.

Mine was just a simple rectangle with wheels. The top was made of a simple mesh of cloth and metal to give it an authentic look.

Depending on how complex you want to make it, you can try several different variations. Unfortunately, my wagon didn’t roll, but if you’d like, you could add this as an extra to make the toy even more fun.

For school shop teachers, this wagon makes for an excellent interdisciplinary lesson. It affords students not only the opportunity to learn some woodworking, but also certain math skills and a variety of history lessons. The possibilities are nearly limitless and range from complex projects that can take several weeks or a simple one or two-day lesson depending on your personal schedule.

Birdhouse

Perhaps the most commonly thought of woodworking project for kids, making a birdhouse (picture at the beginning of the article) is a traditional favorite. Not only does it provide quality time for dad to spend with his kids, it also provides an end product that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

As with the other projects, making a birdhouse offers many creative opportunities.  For children, a simple birdhouse design may be the easiest, but the finished product can be decorated in several different ways.

Additionally, once the birdhouse is completed, you and your family can enjoy a new pastime. Children, especially, will learn to take great pride in their work when a bird comes to live in the home they built.

Building the birdhouse can also bring forth an opportunity to teach children the importance of detailed work and of taking care of others. By emphasizing the importance of the project to birds, parents can encourage children to take extra care in the work they do. This is a necessary skill in any woodworking project for kids and is good to teach children early.

For children who are just starting, a simple straight, flat roof may be the best option. For children with more experience, you can add a little variance with staggered roofs and other designs.

The project is also great if you’re on a budget, as it requires a minimal amount of supplies. It’s also relatively safe for children, giving them more freedom to do more of the project by themselves.

Toolbox

A simple toolbox design is a basic woodworking project that is great for kids. By having a child make their own toolbox, you can help instill in them pride and values of hard work.

Having their own toolbox will also make a child feel more grown-up and motivate them to keep trying in future projects.

You can provide them with new tools for their box as their skill level increases. This will further their interest in woodworking and incentivize them to try harder.

In this way, woodworking itself becomes the reward!

Though it can be as complex as you’d like it to be, a simple toolbox need only have a handle and a box to place certain tools. Ideally, it will have a divider in the middle for better organization.

The project even works for younger children—using thinner wood helps keep the weight down so that they can carry their tool boxes.

Once the toolbox is built, children can be taught proper storage practices as well as how to hone their organizational skills.

Additionally, by having them keep up with their own set of tools, you can help motivate children into taking more responsibility in their actions. Just be sure to supervise children when they are using them.

Animal Stools

These stools are a creative twist on a simple woodworking stool project. It involves altering a basic stool design by placing “animal ears” on the stool seat. The project affords significant flexibility in design, making it good for children of differing ages and gender.

Because the stool itself is relatively simple, it’s a great first project for children who are just starting woodworking. By allowing them to decorate it as the animal of their choice when they’re finished, you also encourage them to stay motivated as they learn.

Have children who already have experience in woodworking? No problem! Have them create a whole stool set. Have a woodland animal stool set or create a whole family of your child’s favorite animal. Whatever the outcome, it’s sure to be a favorite.

This stool can also be modified for more advanced woodworkers. For those looking to practice making a more aesthetic design, the stool’s legs can be smoothed and rounded for an added challenge.

Shelf

 When I was little, I had two woodworking projects of which I was really proud—one was my wagon. The other was much simpler.

It was just a small shelf that I made after watching my father make a real one for our home. Though crude and poorly shaped, it served its purpose.

It was first bit of woodworking I completed entirely on my own, and I used it to line up mason jars for target practice in the yard. My weapon of choice: a slingshot.

With a little guidance, a child can make a shelf of their own. The best part is that the finished shelf can be used for a variety of purposes. Whether it be for recreation (like mine) or for a more practical, functional use, a shelf is perfect for all kinds of children.

It can also be used in conjunction with other projects. Place a shelf in your child’s room above their animal stool set and decorate it with their favorite stuffed toys. For children who like to read (or those whom you want to encourage to read), use it as a bookshelf. Even make a series of shelves for your child’s favorite toys or knick knacks. The possibilities are limitless!

You can go beyond a simple shelf by making an entire bookcase or nightstand. This offers a fun challenge for older kids and teens.

Lockbox Piggy Bank Treasure Chest

Looking to teach children the value of hard work and savings? Have them make a lockbox piggy bank. Shaped like a classic pirate’s treasure chest, this project provides a fun, imaginative treat for kids of all ages.

Unlike other projects already mentioned, this intermediate-to-advanced level task requires a bit more experience to execute properly.

But don’t worry! Younger children can remained involved in the process by completing certain parts of the chest on their own.

For example, the base of the chest should consist of a hollow, covered box with a small coin-sized slit in the top. Reinforce the value of teamwork by working with them to make the curved, top half to the box and to attach hinges and a lock for an extra-realistic effect.

For older or more-experienced children, making the complete piggy bank with minimal assistance is a fun.

Once finished, children of all ages can have fun decorating it for their own customized piggy bank. Then just add coins and enjoy!

Basic Dollhouse

Woodworking doesn’t just have to be for boys! Here’s a good project for all the daughters out there.  Building a basic dollhouse is a great way to introduce your daughter to woodworking while spending some quality father-daughter time (or grandfather-granddaughter time) with her.

A basic dollhouse doesn’t need to be too elaborate. A child simply needs to build an open space (imagine a desk drawer turned vertically) and divide this space into different rooms. In general, she should place an extra board in the middle so that her dollhouse will have two floors. The trickiest part will be the roof, as these tend to be steeped. It’s important to get an exact angle so that the top of the dollhouse turns out looking even (remember: no princess wants to live in a house that looks like it’s falling in!)

If your child is up for it, you can try making a dual-sided dollhouse. Basically, this entails building two symmetrical basic dollhouses and connecting them in the middle with a hinge. As this can be more advanced, you will likely have to aid your child during this step. The end result will be a folding dollhouse that will actually resemble a real house. For an extra touch, your child can add spaces for doors and windows (or even build them!). Though the dollhouse doesn’t need to be too large, remember to plan ahead and make sure that it can fit your child’s favorite dolls.

As your child grows in her woodworking skills, she can expand and change the shape of her dollhouse. The pride at seeing how far her skills have come (and at how much better her dolls are doing) will inspire her creativity and help her challenge more difficult wood-working tasks later on.

Wagon

This final project isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those who are up to the challenge, it quite possibly offers the biggest reward.

Unless you are working with children who have a lot of experience, this project will likely take more adult help to complete.

Unlike the toy wagon previously discussed, this project involves making a full-sized wagon suitable for hauling goods. While likely not suitable for human transportation, it can certainly haul their stuffed animals, toys, and other paraphernalia.

A full-scale wagon is also an option for those willing to put in the extra work.

Conclusion

So there you have it! These eight woodworking projects for kids will have your child or student on their way to becoming a master craftsman in no time. Though the work will undoubtedly require assistance, these projects are simple enough for a child to complete while being difficult enough to learn.

I, myself, have many fond memories of woodworking and can guarantee to parents and teachers alike that while the craft itself is fun and highly beneficial, one of the greatest advantages of woodworking as a child are the intangible ones—spending time with family, learning a new skill, and even all the hours spent after the project is done: birdwatching, rolling wagons, or even having dollhouse tea parties.

Greetings,

Vince