Easy woodworking projects for kids are meant to inculcate creative skills in your beloved sweetheart. Motor skills are vital if you want your child to develop a positive and healthy outlook towards life.
It is being stated that woodworking is one such hobby that can help your child develop his/her motor skills. The best part of this craft (woodworking) is that it is cost effective and time saving.
You do not need to put in a lot of time and effort in developing a woodworking project. With the necessary tools in hand and a few hours to spare, your child can complete a woodworking project with ease.
Here is what all I shall be discussing in my article:
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Easy Woodworking Projects for Kids Write Contents:
1) Top 3 Woodwork Projects for 5 Year Old
2) Top 3 Children’s Balsa Wood Projects
3) Top 3 Simple Wood Projects for Kids
4) How Can Your Child Benefit from Woodworking Projects?
5) Are there any Drawbacks Attached to Kid’s Woodworking Projects?
6) My Opinion on Easy Woodworking Projects for Kids
Top 3 Woodwork Projects for 5 Year Old
You may feel as though you are asking too much from your 5 year old. Nonetheless, compared to letting him/her watch mindless cartoons on the SmartPhone, it is way better to help hone your child’s creative skills. This is where woodwork projects step in.
In my opinion, the use of glue and pieces of wood is sufficient. No need to opt for power tools. I prefer that to be left for slightly older kids – 10 year olds. I opt out of power tools for 5 year olds because the adult supervision required can be quite a task.
Well, here are my top 3 picks when it comes to helping your 5 year old create a woodwork project at home:
The # 1 Woodwork Project for 5 Year Old:
A wooden doll is by far an easy diy woodwork project for kids. You can help your child complete the project by supervising them. You would however need a wooden drill (power tool) for this purpose.
Here are the ingredients:
@ A wooden drill (the tiny one)
@ A set of wooden blocks of even size
@ A Pen that can Etch Words on Wood
@ Glue suitable for Wood
@ Heavy Duty String (cord).
The Method:
>>> Simply draw a sketch on a piece of paper. Show the sketch of the doll to your kid.
>>> Once approved, you can arrange the blocks as per the sketch.
>>> Use the drill to make holes in the middle of the blocks.
>>> Affix a nail on the topmost portion of the string.
>>> Push the string through the blocks after lacing the string with glue. Ask your kid to help you here.
>>> Your wooden toy is ready.
The # 2 Woodwork Project for 5 Year Old:
The Wood Photo Frame is my # 2 choice. This is super easy and yet challenging for the kid. On this frame you can enclose the photograph of your beloved child.
Here is what all you would need:
@ A Pine Board
@ Glue for Wood
@ Craft Paint
@ Wood Joiners – Screws
@ A Trunk full of Clothes for Weight
@ A Foam Board (stiff) to stick the photo onto.
Here is the Method:
@ A pine board – usually 3.5 inches in width & 8 feet in length should suffice.
@ Snip the board into 2 (15 inch) and 2 (19 inch) frames.
@ Keep the width 22inch and length 19 inch n width.
@ After adjusting the wood pieces & applying glue to them, fix them with the aid of wood joiners.
@ Place the glued frame under something heavy – such as a small trunk filled with clothes.
@ Use acrylic paint meant for craft purpose. Help your child paint the edges of the photo-frame.
@ Place the photo onto the foam board and glue it.
@ Paste the foam board onto the frame using easily removable stables.
@ Hang the photo frame using a sawtooth hanger.
The # 3 Woodwork Project for 5 Year Old:
Coasters using wooden pieces are an ideal way to encourage a 5 year old to use his/her creativity. This not only helps keep your table stain-free, it also inculcates basic table manners in your 5 year old.
Here is what all you would need:
@ 4 inch by 4 inch piece of wood (Pine or Maple).
@ ¼ inch thick strips of Balsa wood.
@ Glue
@ Sandpaper
@ Spray Pain of your chosen color
@ A pair of scissors and pencil.
Here is the Method:
>>> Keeping the coaster a simple task, simply place four wooden pieces on the table.
>>> Snip balsa wood pieces into 4 inch long strips. Assuming you are making 4 coasters, you need 16 balsa wooden strips.
>>> Affix the balsa wood strips to each corner of the wood. Glue them in a slanting manner so that they appear tapered.
>>> File off rough edges using sandpaper. Ensure that the coaster is smooth adds an extra ¼ inch to the pine board.
>>> Spray paint the coaster after the glue has dried.
>>> Place your precious cup of coffee or tea on the coaster and enjoy.
Top 3 Children’s Balsa Wood Projects
Popularly known as Ochroma Pyramidale, balsa wood is one of the easiest native trees to be found in USA. It is ideal for making woodwork projects. The wood is sturdy yet stable and is exceptionally long lasting in nature.
Ironically, balsa wood is supposed to belong to Hardwood trees yet, it is a soft wood. As it is buoyant, balsa wood is supposed to withstand high amounts of heat as well as cold. So, it is a reliable for your kid’s woodworking projects.
Here are my top 3 picks:
The # 1 Children’s Balsa Wood Project:
First a Brief on Mason Bees:
Your 5 year old would love to build a nice and cosy house for the mason bees. This is an easy task and also environmentally friendly. When your child builds a bee house, he/she shall be able to relate to nature in the most suitable manner.
Mason bees are not harmful as honey bees and can live alongside humans without stinging them (well, almost). When they have a home, mason bees can lay their eggs and allow them to rest all winter. The eggs hatch only during the warm months and help in pollination.
Here is What all You Need:
@ Balsa wood – 4 inches wide, 4 inches thick and 14 inches long.
@ Drill Bit – 5/16 inch
@ Balsa Board – 3/4th inch in thickness, 6 inches long and 6 inches wide.
Here is How You do It:
@ Simply drill a few holes – about 20 to 25 on the long board.
@ These holes should be placed at an equal distance.
@ Make sure that the holes are ½ an inch deep. This allows the mason bee to go inside and lay eggs with ease.
@ Place the 6X6 inch board as a roof over the 14 inch board. Keep it in place with a pair of 4 nails.
@ Look for a tree in your garden that receives a lot of sunshine. Hang the bee house there.
The # 2 Children’s Balsa Wood Project:
Wood Chimes made from balsa wood is my second favorite. I know it may seem slightly tough at first for a 5 year old to build. In reality, it is an easy task indeed.
Here is what you need:
@ 10 Strips of balsa wood (1/2 inch in thickness and 6 inches in length).
@ A string.
@ Glue & Sandpaper
@ Drill
@ Nails and a balsa wooden board (10 inch long and 4 inch wide)
@ 10 even sized beads.
Here is how it is made:
>>> Simply file the balsa wood strips to ensure that no uneven surface is left.
>>> Using the drill, make a hole in the center of each wooden strip.
>>> Pass a cord through each hole and place a bead after each balsa wooden strip.
>>> Place a drop of glue at each point wherein the string touches the beads and wood.
>>> Drill a hole at the center of the large wooden board. Pull the string containing the balsa strips and beads. Tie a knot at the top.
>>> Nail the wooden chime near your front entrance, where the wind blows.
The # 3 Children’s Balsa Wood Project:
The third and final balsa wood project for 5 year old kids is a simple pencil stand made from wood. This is an essential piece of equipment that I feel each and every child usually has at home. So, why buy it from the market when you can make it at home.
Well, here is what you need:
@ 4 Pieces of Balsa Wood – 6 inches in height and 3 inches in width.
@ Glue for joining wooden surfaces.
@ Sandpaper
@ A square shaped balsa wood (3”X3”X0.5”)
@ Acrylic paint
Here is How you Make it:
>>> Place the 3 inch by 3 inch base onto a table.
>>> Place the glue on the sides of this wooden base.
>>> Stick the balsa wood boards to each side this base.
>>> Make sure that you paste the boards in such a manner that they cover the ½ inch thickness of the wooden base completely.
>>> Allow this to stick by drying it under a fan.
>>> Apply the chosen paint to the exteriors of this pencil box.
>>> Allow the paint to dry. Place your pencil, razor, rubber and sharpener inside the box.
Top 3 Simple Wood Projects for Kids
Here are my top 3 choices:
# 1: The Bird House:
Now, this may seem a bit tough in the beginning but in reality, bird houses are easy to make. Well, you may need guidance from an adult but this house can be prepared in a jiffy.
It also helps your child connect to Mother Nature. Please make note of the fact that this is an intermediate level woodwork project. Nonetheless, we can make it simpler. So, I am avoiding all the frills and fancy pieces here. I’m keeping it very simple.
Here is what all you need:
@ Flat square board (10 inch by 10 inch). It should be 1 inch in thickness. (This is for the base of the birdhouse)
@ Three rectangular boards (½ inch thick). The height should be 8 inches and width 7 inches. (This is for the sides and back of the birdhouse).
@ Two rectangular wooden boards (½ inch in thickness). They should be 10 inches long and 5 inches wide. (This is for the roof).
@ One rectangular board of ½ inch thickness. It should be 7 inches wide and 8 inches thick. (This is for the front).
@ A saw, a drill, a paint brush, a few pieces of nails, a pair of scissors and a waterproof canopy.
Here is how you build a bird house:
@ Place the base on a table top. Dip the brush in glue. Apply glue on all its sides.
@ Stick the back and side walls to this base.
@ Using a pencil, draw a door to the front portion. Use a saw to make the door.
@ Stick this to the front of the bird house, using the glue liberally.
@ Now, join the two boards meant for the roof in a slanting fashion. Join the drooping edges to the bird house’s side walls.
@ Cut the waterproof canopy as per the dimensions of the bird house. Paste it onto the roof and sides.
@ Place some cotton inside the bird house. Nail the house to a thick tree trunk.
# 2: The Height Ruler:
This is my second favorite woodwork project for kids. When you want your child to measure his/her height then, this ruler shall come as a pleasant surprise. You can access over 16,000 woodworking plans.
Here is what all you need:
@ A board that is 1 foot wide, two inches thick and five feet in length
@ 1 Oil based Paint Marker
@ Vinyl Numbers that can Stick onto your Measuring Ruler. These should be one inch.
@ Pre Stain Wood Conditioner
@ Wood Finish Paint
@ Multi Purpose Shop Towels for cleaning spills
@ Drill Machine & Tape Measure
@ Construction Square & Miter Saw
Here is How You Make It:
>>> Place the board onto a flat wooden desk. Thereafter, stain the board using shop towels. Light color stains give you darker colors and light color stains provide a brighter color.
>>> Apply pre-stain and let it lie for 15 minutes. Thereafter, apply the chosen stain. Wipe it off using a paper towel.
>>> In the next step, you need to mark the foot and inch lines. You can use the oil based marker pen to achieve this aim.
>>> All the feet numbers are 3 inches in length. The inches (for odd numbers) are marked with 2 inch length. For even numbers, the length is 1.5 inches. This helps provide clarity to the numbers (makes it an easy read).
>>> To draw the above lines properly, you need to use a construction square.
>>> After this, simply apply a coat of polyurethane onto the board. I prefer the glossy finish. Allow the coat to dry and rub the board with (300+) sandpaper. Apply another coat of polyurethane.
>>> The next step is to add the stick-on adhesive numbers. This helps demarcate feet from inches.
>>> In the very last step, simply find a wall and screw the board onto one side.
# 3: Toothbrush Holder:
There is no better way to train your kids than ensuring they learn bathroom manners. So, teaching them to build a toothbrush holder ensures that your kids shall never place their brush elsewhere.
Here is what you need:
@ Take a board that is 6 X 6 inches and 2 inch thick.
@ A Drill with a 1 inch bit.
@ An Oil Based Pen.
@ A Scrollsaw.
Here is how to make it Happen:
>>> Place the board onto a flat surface.
>>> Pull a chair and give the pen to your child. Have him draw the shape he/she desires onto the board.
>>> Make a few corrections to the drawn figure if you need to.
>>> Cut the figure using a scrollsaw.
>>> At one end of the toothbrush holder, make a hole (using the drill). This is where your kid’s toothbrush shall be positioned.
>>> Ask your child to even the surface using sandpaper.
>>> Give your child a color palate and have them color the toothbrush holder as they like.
How Can Your Child Benefit from Woodworking Projects?
Here are the advantages of teaching your child woodworking:
Learning a Good Habit:
First and foremost, you shall be encouraging your child to inculcate a good habit. Rather than wasting time watching cartoons, your kid shall learn how to create craft from wood.
Staying Away from Harmful Habits:
Most kids nowadays spend a lot of time behind Smartphones and TV. This is not a good habit. It not only damages their vision but also stops the ability of your child to use his/her brain optimally.
When you encourage your child to create articles from wood, they shall develop their motor skills. They would also stay away from TV and SmartPhones.
Good Hobby to Pass Time:
As I have mentioned in my very first point, woodworking projects are helpful in inculcating good habits in your child. So, instead of whiling away their spare time, kids shall learn to focus on something constructive.
Skills that can be Passed to Others:
Once your child learns to create objects from wood, he/she shall help pass on this knowledge to others. This in turn implies that your kid’s friend’s circle shall also start to benefit from the skill your child has learnt.
Better Grades at School:
When your child learns woodworking, he/she automatically develops his/her motor skills. Your child also becomes sharp. This in turn helps him/her to perform better at school. More focus and patience learnt while woodworking favors your child in academics as well.
Skill-Set to Earn a Living:
If your child is serious about woodworking, he/she can transform this craft into his/her career. This in turn implies that earning a living from woodworking is definitely a possibility. Even as a hobby, your child can earn a side income selling the woodworking projects to others.
Better Bonding with the Family:
Usually father and son bond well when both are working at the same project. A woodworking project is a classic example of the same. Even mothers and daughter/sons can bond well when both are helping each other complete a woodworking project.
Not an Expensive Hobby:
Woodworking is not at all an expensive hobby. As compared to most other hobbies wherein you need to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars, woodworking is dirt cheap.
Leaving the initial investment on drills and saw aside (which is negligible), the only investment your child needs to make is putting in the desired effort.
Perfect Stress Buster for Covid 19
The last 2 years have been rather traumatic for everyone. This is especially true for kids. Their freedom of expression has been literally robbed.
In such a mentally traumatic scenario, teaching your child to engage his/her mind actively is a challenging task indeed. Woodworking projects for kids is an ideal way to achieve this goal.
It helps keep your child positively occupied and removes depressive tendencies.
Are there any Drawbacks attached to Kid’s Woodworking Projects?
Here are the drawbacks of the same:
Not as Easy as it Seems:
While I do agree that woodworking projects for kids has a positive influence in your child’s life, it is not the easiest hobbies to master. There is a certain level of technical expertise that your child has to accomplish in order to craft even the simplest of woodwork objects.
Needs Mental preparation:
Your child would need to be mentally prepared before he/she is able to start working on his/her first project. This is especially true in homes wherein woodworking tasks is not encouraged at the grass-root level.
Space and Equipment is Necessary:
There is no doubt that regardless of the simplicity of the woodworking project, you need to first buy the necessary tools. Some of these include drill, bits, saw, nails, clamps, paint, marker pens, construction box (to name just a few).
So yes, initial investment is necessary. At the same time, you also need ample space to carry out your projects. If the project is small in size, you still need to dedicate an entire room for storing your tools.
Loss of Trees- Not Necessary:
Some people have cited woodworking projects to cause loss of trees. This is not true. More trees are cut for harnessing fossil fuels than for accomplishing any other task (but no one talks about it). Use recycled wood to complete your woodworking project. This way, you end up preserving your environment.
Minor Injuries are Common:
While working with wood, injuring your fingers and skin is common. Your kid may wear gloves but accidents do happen. So, supervision needs to be a constant affair. If you as a parent are vigilant, accidents shall be avoided.
Risk of Fire:
Wood is highly combustible and so is the paint and oils that often accompany any woodworking project. So, always keep a fire extinguisher handy. The room wherein you perform your woodworking project should be airy and a smoke-free zone.
My Opinion on Easy Woodworking Projects for Kids
Easy woodworking projects for kids are undoubtedly one of the easiest ways to teach your children to use their mental abilities optimally. Building projects for kids keeps your child happy and mentally satisfied.
In case you lack optimal bonding with your kids then, kids wood projects shall help them bond with you. Apart from the father and son bonding, woodworking projects help steer your child away from harmful addictions such as watching cartoons and TV.
I have particularly noticed that during the pandemic era, the inclusion of hobbies such as woodworking has helped keep a child’s minds proactive and the approach positive.
So in my opinion, teaching your kid the art of making projects from wood is a genuinely productive ordeal.