17 Awesome Woodworking Projects for Kids to Build

Few things are as fun, yet rewarding, as finishing a woodworking project with your kids. They get the joy of using their imaginations and using tools like adults, and parents get the joy of spending time with the youngsters doing something positive that creates something the family can enjoy for a long time.

These are great woodworking projects for kids. They offer a range of difficulties. You can construct several DIY wood projects if your kids like working with their hands, and you can move from one to the next with increasing difficulty. Some are very simple and feature only wood, paint, and glue, but others require power tools. You can make a rainy day special when you select one of these DIY woodworking projects for kids.

Woodworking Projects for Kids

1. Homemade Candy Dispenser from Boys’ Life

Did we say that a woodworking project can be rewarding? You can build a candy dispenser, and it isn’t just a good learning experience; we think it’s something your kids will love to build because it’ll give them treats whenever they want.

This is one of the more complicated DIY wood projects, but it’s also the most fun. It requires using basic hand tools, and parents will have a little extra work to do.

2. DIY Catapult

Nothing quite captures the attention as a toy that tosses things. That includes a toy catapult that you can use for games of skill or just for the joy of making a ball sail through the air. Plus, the kids will appreciate that they build it. You can find other catapults, but we like this plan for being straightforward yet capable of modifications, so you can build one to the appropriate size for your kids.

3. Wooden Robot Buddy

As one of the simplest woodworking projects for kids we found, this one is bound to be a delight for younger kids. It’ll be like making a toy friend for your kids; it’s big enough to entertain the little ones and is made of simple wooden blocks. Here are some plans you can use to construct this toy, just in case you want something to guide their creativity.

4. Kids’ Workbench

A workbench is a great way to teach kids that sometimes they have to construct equipment in order to build things. If you’re a skilled woodworker, this is just the sort of thing you’ll want your kids to pick up. Plus, it’ll give them a place to feel a little more grown-up as they start to accumulate their own collection of tools.

Like other DIY projects, you can probably build the bench without guidelines, but here’s a set of plans to help you get started.

5. Mason Bee House

This Mason bee house is perfect for kids who also love nature. Building a house for pollinators creates housing for bees and allows your kids to help the environment. The great thing is that the species that the house attracts only rarely sting, so it’s a pretty safe way for your kids to help the bees.

This DIY wood project isn’t complicated; the drill is the most complex tool. If your children are young, you’ll want to drill the holes, and here’s a set of plans you can follow for the precise measurements that keep the house as watertight as possible.

6. Bird Houses

No list of DIY woodworking projects for kids would be complete without birdhouses. These are good intermediate projects that just about every kid at some point makes. They not only provide living space for our fine feathered friends but also let your kids take more complicated steps in working with wood and tools. Here are some DIY birdhouse plans we like because they are detailed and easy to follow.

7. Folding Tripod Camp Chair

If you’re an outdoorsy family, a folding tripod chair is a quick, easy project that is collapsible and can provide you a place to take a rest while in the Great Outdoors. Whether used by a campfire strumming a guitar or near the riverside tying a rig to a casting rod, your kids will enjoy thinking about their future adventures while learning how to not just work with wood but fasten leather to wood.

Here’s a good set of how-to instructions, including materials you’ll need. This isn’t just a simple project to build, it’s also inexpensive.

8. Kids’ Playing and Camping Tent

There isn’t technically much word working in making this camping tent. It’s just fastening together some wooden poles and connecting fabric sheets along a beam holding them together. But will your kids care when it means they can build a fort in the backyard in less than 10 minutes?  There are several designs and instructions for tents online, but here is a pretty basic set of instructions that not only tell you how to construct the tent but provide a template from which you can really unleash your creativity.

9. Balance Board

This balance board is the perfect way to perfect your balance while not running the risk of a broken collarbone or chipped tooth. Plus, it’ll be fun for your kids to make. It requires using power tools, which can be exciting for kids who get bored with safe projects.

While it looks simple enough to build without a blueprint, you’ll still want to get the dimensions of the wheel right so that it’s not unbalanced. That means you’ll at least want a guide. Here is a pretty good one.

10. Homemade Catapult (Intermediate Level)

Like the simple desktop catapult featured earlier on this list, this STEM-friendly catapult design is great for kids in the 7- to 10-year-old range. It’s deceptively simple to build and results in great times launching objects in the backyard. Plus, it requires minimal tools and time, making it a great single-day project with just a trip to the crafts store.

11. Balsa Wood Wind Chimes

Easy to make and fun to personalize, these wind chimes will make a small hollow clacking noise and can be decorated further with bells or feathers. With a little bit of ingenuity, you’ll probably only need to purchase balsa wood to make these musical adornments; the rest of the materials can easily be gathered from scrap wood and crafting supplies.

12. DIY Picture Frame

As a great stepping-stone project that bridges the gap between not measuring and measuring for cuts, this photo frame project can be made from almost any scrap wood you might have lying around. You’ll need wood joiners and wood glue for this project, and a trip to the hardware store might be necessary before starting. 

These frames are easily customizable with any paints, markers, or glitter you might have on hand as well. Once you’ve made the cuts for the edges, it’s easy to get your kid’s help in putting the finishing touches on each piece.

13. Simple Trivet Coasters

You can construct x-shaped trivet coasters that are stylish enough to display to your guests. They can be painted in various colors to match any kitchen décor scheme. Try making larger ones as well, and you’ll be able to use them for holding hot pots or casserole dishes at the dinner table.

These coasters are also an especially easy way to learn how to make joints, like the one found at their center. Later, that experience will come in handy as you and your kid learn to tackle more advanced woodworking projects.

14. Wooden Stamps

The only thing you’ll really need to get started on these DIY wooden stamps is a source of softwood. Cut off a thick branch from your nearest tree, and you can use any metal pieces like nuts, bolts, and screws that you might have lying around to create interesting patterns in the ends.

Once you have these stamps prepared and ready, why not use them to decorate the frames of the other woodworking projects found in this list? It’s an easy way to encourage your kids to personalize all of their projects without increasing the difficulty of the plans.

15. Storage Bins

Composed of simple cuts on commonly sized wood pieces, these DIY storage bins require a fair bit of woodworking know-how. When you’re ready to take on a bigger challenge, it’s a great project for teaching planning, measuring, and layouts. Furthermore, it can be adapted to just about any size of wood that you might have available.

16. Kids’ First Toolbox

What better woodworking project for your child than a box for them to carry all of their woodworking tools in? This is a straightforward project that relies on wood glue instead of more complicated joints. It’s a fairly easy project with adult supervision and help on the angled cuts. This toolbox looks great for any woodworking tools but doubles just as well as a carrier for produce or an organizer in a bedroom. It’s a versatile project you can take on any time of year.

17. Kids’ Growth Ruler

Although it’s easy to make and simple to embellish, this tall wooden ruler also allows you to track your child’s growth without damaging your walls! Since it requires little more than a large piece of standard-sized lumber, a measuring tape, and a permanent marker, it’s an uncomplicated project that will delight kids of all ages.

Once your friends see this ruler in your living room, they’ll definitely want one for their own children as well. Consider asking ahead of time for anyone else that might be interested in this project, and you might be able to get a better price on a larger order of lumber.

See Also: 

• 12 DIY Balsa Wood Projects You Can Do Today
• 10 DIY Bamboo Wind Chime Plans You Can Make Today
• 10 Best Woodworking Vises
• 13 Free DIY Printable Woodworking