July 1, 2022

44 Fun DIY Wood projects for kids | Grouped By Age

I grew up doing DIY wood projects for kids with my father. He would talk me through the risks and how to avoid them when using tools. These are some of my fondest memories of our time together, bless the old man! If you are like most parents, you want the best for your children. You want your kids to grow up to be healthy, smart, and well-rounded individuals. One of the greatest things you can give your kids is a love of creating things. This post will give you some ideas and a clear guide on how to ensure your children are safe when doing DIY wood projects.

Safety Checklist

  • Do not wear loose clothing, work gloves, neckties, rings, bracelets, or wristwatches.ย 
  • Always wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield.ย 
  • Add a dust mask when sanding.ย 
  • Wear hearing protection when required.ย 
  • Do not leave nails and sharp tools lying around.
  • Never attempt to do anything that makes you feel in any way uncomfortable.
  • Never work when you are tired or frustrated.
  • Utilize proper housekeeping measures to keep work areas clean.

What you need in a kidsโ€™ woodworking kit

  • Tape measure
  • Screwdriver
  • Carpenterโ€™s square
  • Hammer
  • Manual
  • Nailsย 
  • Glue

Amongst the tools and material you need in a kidsโ€™ woodworking kit is a tape measure, screwdriver, carpenterโ€™s square, hammer and. As much as your kids might be working with harmful objects like nails and hammers for their projects, the kit is kid-friendly.ย 

There is no need for power tools. The woodworking kit has detailed instructions, with photos to help your kid understand each project. There is no need to supervise your child when using a woodworking kit.ย 

It makes you so confident that you expect to see results without supervision. This type of kit helps strengthen your childโ€™s development. It empowers them to a more challenging task and gives them a sense of achievement.

Woodwork projects for 5-year-olds

Pencil Caddy

What makes the project fascinating is that it involves a lot of hammering. If you want to do it with your 5-year-old, take the measuring out with some 1/8โ€ณ (3mm) ply with holes in it where you want the nail holes marked. Collect some 1/8โ€ณ (3mm) ply and some 1/2โ€ณ (12mm) ply or solid for this and a vice.

Scrap Bin โ€“ Stacker

Stackers are not as easy as they look. They need a bit of imagination since they are a bit challenging. Allow your child access to the scrap bin and let them use their imagination to create different shapes, and sand them up.

Brain Flakes

Sometimes you get a picture but in thin pieces of plastic that interlock. It is challenging, but kids get confident quickly in sawing and maybe drilling. Make a jig so that measuring becomes easy. Use some 1/8โ€ณ or 3mm ply and paint only for the project.

Wood building projects for 10-year-olds

  • Tree swing
  • Scarf hanger
  • Hanging basket stand
  • Triangle mirror
  • Bookends

Onager Catapult

Add wheels to your catapult to move it around. Take note the wheels should be close to two inches in diameter for optimal results.

Bookends

For book lovers, bookends are lifesaving. They help your kid stay organized. As they keep storybooks organized, they have the chance to decorate them using pictures, colors, and sizes.ย 

Simple woodworking projects for middle school

  • Folding tripod camp chair
  • Storage bins
  • Toolbox
  • Wall shelf
  • Garden table
  • Wall planter

For an outdoor family, a folding tripod chair is a quick, easy project that is collapsible and gives you a place to take a rest. You can use it by a campfire, strumming a guitar, or riverside. It is ideal for adventurous middle school kids. They can also use it for camping.ย 

Storage bins are from simple cuts, but they require some woodworking experience. When ready to take on a bigger challenge, it is an ideal project for teaching planning, measuring, and layouts. It can be from any size of wood that you might have available.

Kindergarten woodworking projects

  • Wooden picture frame
  • Storage boxes
  • Coasters
  • Jelly bean dispenser
  • Wooden chopping board
  • Balance board

A Wooden picture frame is a great start when introducing kids to woodworking. The tools needed to depend on their age. Use a miter saw or jigsaw, plywood, wood glue, and metal fasteners with basic measuring, straight-line cuts, and gluing. It uses little material, meaning if you make a mistake or two, you have more Plywood to make up for it.ย 

If you are tired of toys being everywhere, you might consider having more storage space. Collect a few sheets of Plywood, a saw, and some wood glue. It looks simple and basic, but there is room for more effort. The kids can also decorate it to their preference.

Father and son wood projects

  • Monster Truckย 
  • Remote Caddyย 
  • Malletย 
  • Toolboxย 
  • Elastic band gun.
  • Doorstop

Woodworking is a way for a father and son to bond together. It places the kidโ€™s father as the role model and helps the Father to build the skills that young people need. Consider your sonโ€™s age, motor skills, and experience level. In some cases, woodworking skills are not mandatory (Artofmanliness.com).

When making a monster truck, use a saw, drill, and other tools. This truck is customizable, and paint or finish it how you want. You need some 2ร—4 (50mm x 100mm) pine and some 1/2โ€ณ (12mm) pine for the wheels.ย 

A door stop is a handy item that lets your child customize what they want. Use a wedge and a piece of wood to nail in the back of it. Your child can paint it, draw a character on it, cut it into a shape, and it will sit in their room for as long as they want it. It would also come in handy if you want to block the draft from a gap under the door.

Woodworking projects for teens

  • Desk
  • Bookcase
  • Music stand
  • Hiking Stick
  • Wood Burning
  • Jewelry Holder
  • Driftwood Art
  • Wooden Spoons
  • Bathtub Tray

Unlike toddlers, teens make items that are useful to themselves or their families since they are at an age where they need skills for entering adulthood. The projects also create a bond between a teenager and a parent, engaging in a new hobby together (Flora raft.com). There are times they need guidance.ย 

Make sure you have a hammer, nails, a hand drill, screws, measuring tape, sandpaper, and protective clothing, and invest in power tools such as a table saw, and jigsaw. A hiking stick is easier to make than a desk. Driftwood Art is easy to make as well as a jewelry box.ย 

Wood projects for grandkids

  • Wood sign
  • Wooden chair
  • Campfire chair
  • Bird feeder
  • Step stool

The granddad can customize this sign to your grandchildrenโ€™s liking. You can add as many grandchildrenโ€™s names as you like and paint in any color. It is an ideal Valentineโ€™s day present for your grandparents in your life. Minimal assembly is required, including screwing names.

Watching birds is a refreshing experience for grandparents and exciting for kids. Making a bird feeder is a project with long-term enjoyment from both parties. A Step stool is an important item for grandparents. Grandkids enjoy using the step stool to reach top drawers.

David D. Hughes

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