5 Easy Woodworking Projects for Kids Using Kits

Dinosaur Puzzle by Andres Rueda, on Flickr

How can you safely introduce a kid to woodworking? One way is to use woodworking kits that do not even require the use of tools. Even if you have no woodworking experience but you want to start your kids off with some easy woodworking projects, you can with woodcraft project kits, which are available at stores like Michaels, JoAnns, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and Target. Here are five easy woodworking projects that can be made with wood crafting kits to introduce a kid to the craft:

1. Memory Clock Kit – These come with all the necessary pieces for the clock and instructions. After putting the clock together, kids can embellish it with various items to make it their own such as photos, charms, and sports mementos. 

2. Clothes Hooks – All you need to begin this project is a 1″ x 4″ x 12″ board and some metal one- or two-prong hooks to screw into the board. Besides that, you will need items like stickers or paint so that the kids can decorate the piece to go with their room or reflect their current interest. The adult will need to screw the hooks into the wood and screw the board onto the wall, but even the un-handiest of parents can do that. An alternative to screwing the pieces together is using adhesive, but make sure you use some that is strong enough to hold and will attach to the wall without damaging it if you want to remove it.

3. 3-D Wooden Puzzles – These are available in many different forms, including dinosaurs, buildings, planes, animals, and boats. I remember putting dinosaur 3-D wooden puzzles together as a kid and loved it. The pieces can also be painted or decoupaged before assembly.

4. Smaller Clothes Hooks Project – If you have a small space you want to fill, you could put a unique single clothes hook in it by starting with a pre-cut and sanded wooden shape such as a heart, square, circle, rectangle, or diamond. These can be found at many craft stores. Then you can add the one- or two-prong hook to the shape and let the kids paint, draw on, add stickers, or embellish in any way they desire.

5. Mini-craft kits – These woodcraft mini-kits can be found at Michaels Craft Stores for about a dollar each. They are small-scale boats, cars, airplanes, and other items which are easily painted and glued together. However, because they contain small parts, they should be avoided for children under five.

These five woodcraft project kits for kids will allow even the most unskilled parent to introduce their kids to easy woodworking. What makes them worthwhile is that they are safe, low cost, and fun.